For this third portrait, I was beginning to believe my efforts didn't totally suck, despite failing to achieve the natural-look effect I was aiming for.

Dear Dad, They don't celebrate Haloween here like we used to as kids. Very few houses do it, and none of them are decorated.

A second attempt at portraiture turned out a little better, with some saying they could recognize him.

A colleague at the place I last worked challenged me to use the projector gift they gave me to paint portraits of the team.

Dear Dad, Last time on the phone, we discused the art you've done - the nails and string piece and the living-room Paris mural. That got me thinking a bit.

Dear Dad, Yesterday was the big party; sixty-fifth birthday and retirement rolled into one.