I finally finished this portrait painting “Contemplation” of a friend. She came to sit for photographs last December. She’s an artist too, who does leather-work and custom shoes. I was intrigued by the fox pelt and deer skull she brought. The fox had been found killed at the side of the road and she cleaned and tanned it. I wanted to make the background of this painting evocative, but enigmatic… who knows where this is and what she’s thinking about?