Hannah’s many aliases include The Imp, Half-Pint, and Hannah Banana. She loves rooting around in the woods by her home and fetching toys down the steep bank below the deck. No matter how high the weeds and brush, she never gives up a search and always returns with her toy, exhausted but ready for more. Occasionally she is allowed to sleep on the bed, where she likes to pounce on your feet and nibble them through the covers.

The pastel paper I typically use, Canson Mi-Tientes, has a great texture, which I allowed to show through on this portrait. It gives the surface the appearance of canvas and suggests Hannah’s intense energy. A smoother texture can be achieved by using the reverse side of the paper.