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Whitsett portrait artist Johnny Todd has a passion for artwork. He loves to create portraits from photos.

Todd starts by doing a sketch of the subject, then goes back through, adding the finer details to the canvas. He works with pen and ink, charcoal, soft and oil pastels.

He has developed a Web site to promote his business, showing examples from his portfolio of work. If you visit his site, you will also see the process he goes through in creating the portrait step by step.

Todd also advertises his business on the side of his car and by having business cards and brochures handy for anyone who is interested in finding out more. His logo promises "quality artwork at an affordable price."

Art is a side business for Todd, who works full time at Chick-fil-A at the Burlington Square Mall. He hopes to eventually be able to create his portraits full time.

"I'm just another portrait artist offering my services for commissioned portrait artwork, so if you're looking for someone with a college degree and a room full of awards and trophies or whatever, I'm not that person," Todd said. "But, I will say this, I will indulge you with an exquisite piece of art, which I'm pretty sure you will adore and lavish. That is my commitment to you, and I do this all for the glory of God."

Todd said he enjoyed drawing with a pencil in his early years. Growing up, he was told again and again that he was good at artwork. During eighth grade, he attended the Sawtooth Center in his hometown of Winston-Salem for two weeks of additional training.

His high school art teacher at East Forsyth, Tony Idol, had a big influence on his life and his art during his four years there in the late 1980s, Todd said. In his senior year, Todd won the Gold Key Art Award for a pen and ink stippling, artwork done only in small dots of ink to create the image.

After high school, Todd did not concentrate on his artwork. Several years passed before he rediscovered the passion.

As he started to work on his artwork again seriously, people told him "Hey, this is good; you should find a way to sell your artwork." For several years, the demands of daily life kept him from pursuing his artwork beyond a hobby.

A few years ago, while living in Myrtle Beach, Todd's pastor asked him to do a special portrait.

She gave him two digital photos to work with, and he combined the two in the portrait he created.

As more people saw his portrait art and complimented him on it, he realized he should be using his God-given talent more. He started to promote his business and accept payment for his work.

"I see this blessing as a God-given talent in which I've learned how to sharpen through his blessings of the many years of study and practice he has allowed me to have," Todd said.

Todd's living room coffee table is his studio.

He said he likes to give an hour a day to each portrait he is currently working on.

He spreads the work over a week or two depending on how things go, unless someone has an urgent request for him to finish more quickly.

Todd said he likes to review each portrait with the person who has commissioned it. This gives the customer control of the process, he said. Todd said he wants the customer to be 100 percent satisfied and is willing to redo the portrait or refund the deposit at the request of his client.

When Todd is not pursuing his artwork in his spare time, he can be found working on other projects, including a book about his faith that will include many examples of his artwork. He also is developing a Bible-based computer software program that he hopes will be finished later this year.

Where does he see himself in five to 10 years?

He smiled, saying he'd like to see himself as a "widely known artist."

Linda Vestal is a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend living in Gibsonville. Contact her with comments or story ideas at lindavestal@triad.rr.com.