Following my stay in hospital in August last year, I promised one of the hurses that, if she let me have some photographs of her three young sons, I would do her a portrait of them as a `thank you` for all the care and attention she had shown me in my post-op ward. Now said illness has resulted in rather a long painters-block (almost unknown in my life) but, having made the promise, I was acutely aware of time ticking by ... I received several photographs and fiddled with them to get three faces that would go together well as a portrait. Media? Yes it would have to be soft pastels. Next problem? The Colourfix paper I usually use was too small - yes I know I could have sent for a full-size sheet but ... Anyway I found an Ingres pad and sized down the pictures. Right - now for the skin tone - Filipino - mmm. I know the camera always darkens tones and I have never actually met the children. Mother is a gorgeous honey colour but I have to be careful here. OK - tones sorted - went to Art Group and worked on youngest son. The photograph I selected showed him with rather a malcontented look on his face but, on studying a family photograph I realise he is actually very like his father whose face (in repose) takes on the same look - strange ... Eldest son comes next - ah, he really takes after his mother - a gorgeous, happy grin and twinkling eyes. No problems there - a good likeness. Now to middle son. Yes, I worked away quite happily on him on Thursday and when I came home propped the picture on the back of the sofa. Disaster!!! The whole head is too small - why I didn`t notice this whilst I was working on it I really don`t know - yes I do know - I didn`t step back and look at it from time to time. Well it is going to be the pastel equivalent of the watercolour putting it under the tap - getting a fairly stiff brush and rubbing the third boy out and resizing him to start again ... Oh one other thing; when I propped the painting up on said sofa the previous Tuesday, I stepped back to look at it - onto my art bag which I had dumped on the sitting room floor - fell backwards onto my footstool and twisted my knee! Tomorrow is another day - there is nothing that cannot be cured with a little patience - knee is already a lot better so lets hope the painting will respond to treatment eh?