I hesitated to download my project because I wasn't thrilled with it. Your class inspired me to paint my own winter bird, aiming for your loose, colorful style that comes so effortlessly in your work, where it seems like you paint without overthinking, and everything just falls into place seamlessly. In attempting to follow my intuition, I realized that, as usual, I might have gone a bit too far with my painting. Knowing when to stop is a skill I'm still developing. It's challenging to discern the final look when you're in the midst of the creative process :-)
I decided to add a bokeh effect because I wasn't pleased with the background. I figured it couldn't hurt, and in my opinion, it even enhances the overall situation a bit. Your insights have been invaluable, and I'm working on refining my ability to strike that balance in my artistic expression. Thank you, Will, for the constant encouragement and inspiration!