The First Page

When starting a new sketchbook there always seems to be a bit of anxiety over the first page. Anyone who has kept a journal of any kind (or only just started one) knows the feeling. And why not, a new book is a clean slate, a fresh start, in some ways... a new life. If you were given a new life you would probably think pretty carefully about the first couple of things you did with it.
Well, I'm not one to stress out to much over these things. After all, every page is a brand new day... Yet I can't help feeling just the slightest nervous twinge over what the first thing people, and myself, are going to see every time they open this book.
For now, I can rest easy, I have started my new sketchbook and the first page came out great. I can't say as much for the second or the third page... but the first page came out great.

But first, These are some people:

8" x 8" oil on board, about 3 hours

8" x 8" oil on board, about 2.5 hours

8" x 8" oil on board, not sure on the time for this one.

Here it is, the first page, and what a great model for it.

Some more people