"Cherchez La Femme" - look for the woman. This is from my travels to the Red Light District in Amsterdam. The sad and used look of the faces of the women in the windows is what I inteded to capture with this self portrait. The colors are rich and sultry - I have touches of iridescent gold, and blue - as well as a little gold mica chip flake. My work is very emotional, and not overworked - I consider it perfectly imperfect. When I feel that the painting has the feeling I intend it to feel, then I stop painting - varnish, and consider the work complete. You may find paint on the back of the canvas, splotches on the sides, streaks of graphite pencil in areas if graphite stick is used - all are there to create the feel of the piece.