In observing the spirit of the soul, whether in the sparkle of a child's eye or tilt of his head or in the face of an adult who has endured the highs and lows life has dealt him, one finds part of the magic of the portrait. The other part is found in the fluid brush strokes, the combinations of the darks, lights, various edges and warm and cool colors incorporated together to create a mood, whether subtle or exciting. I think the more we travel life's road as artists and learn the intricacies about peoples and animals personalities as well as our own, the more expressive our portraits become.

The happiness, loneliness, intenseness, or peacefulness, can all be read in the facial expressions in the portrait. This is true not only of humans but portraits of animals as well. A seven year old student once asked the art teacher, "When do I put the soul in?" He was painting his pet dog. She said, "there's no way to do that," and laughed. I had to interrupt and say, "Sorry, there is a way. Start with the sparkle in the eye and the soul and spirit will come." When you find it, it is so exciting. — Terry Moseley Benson