There is more to painting the human form than just anatomy, although it helps to know where the muscles and bones should be. One of my favorite memories in art class was a pop quiz where we had to draw a skeleton and label as many bones as we could remember. I learned then that art is not independent of science.

However, beyond physiology, there is a side to painting the human form that is pure art. One of my favorite artists, John Singer Sargent, was a master at capturing the personality of his subjects. His work is an inspiration to me and to millions of other artists who strive to capture the character of a person in their portrait.

This painting is my most successful portrait to date. Labeled "Nonna," this watercolor portrays my husband's Italian grandmother, a woman who was widowed in World War II and wore black every day until her own death, decades later.