Sikosia 11th anniversary

Reflections in 11th Anniversary

Posted on by pablosikosia

Today, November 2025, SIKOSIA is celebrating its 11th anniversary. It’s been a long time! Since I started my project in 2014, there has been a constant change in the world, and it is evident that everyone’s lives have also changed.  Now I’m a little bit older and possibly a bit wiser.  I have lost some important people, but new people have come into my life, providing fresh perspectives

With 11 years of experience as a portrait artist (I’m in my forties), I believe that change is the only constant in life. Nothing is stationary or immobile. Everything is changing.  Our tastes change, our expectations change, our desires change, our health changes, our appearance changes… even what brings us happiness changes over time!

This final point may be the most significant. We all desire to be happy. Our lives are spent searching for the things that will make us happy: finding a job that gives us meaning, finding the ideal partner, living our dream life, etc. But what brings us happiness in our 20s may not be the same as what brings us happiness in our 40s. Let’s not think about it in our 60s!  Change is evident once more.

I don’t consider myself a self-help guru or anything like that. Just I learned to appreciate the life I currently have now, in the present. My recipe, which took me years to learn, is simple: always be thankful for what you have, whether it’s a little or a lot, and avoid complaining (this is the toughest part!). Trust me, you can be happy, regardless of where you are, even in the face of constant change and sometimes hard times.

Perhaps one day we’ll meet in person and we can talk more about this or other topics with one coffee or one bourbon. Who knows!  I would like to hear your point of view and experiences.

And if life permits, maybe in 2026 I’ll come back with another reflection to commemorate my 12th anniversary. Love and blessings!

ideas for female portraits by Pablo Sikosia

Ideas for Portraits of Females to give away

Posted on by pablosikosia

One of the most challenging parts of drawing a portrait is mastering posing, which requires constant critical observation and savvy adaptation. It’s challenging to make someone look amazing or perfect from head to toe, especially when it’s a woman (who tend to value details more than men and are more critical).

For inspiration and guidance, I offer 12 diverse female portraits. Pick something you like, then adjust it to fit your preferences if you want one in the future or you want give it away (it will be easier to find inspiration).

The portraits show the posture (reclining, seated, standing, etc.) and, in some instances, distinct traits (like the use of props, leaning positions, etc.). Enjoy!

Tips for shooting portraits by Pablo Sikosia

Tips for shooting Portraits with your Smartphone

Posted on by pablosikosia

A some times ago, I found these ideas reading one of my fav photography magazine, Amateur Photographer. I use them and they work very good. Also, when I receive photographs that include some of these tips, I find it easier to draw portraits (people and pets).

Try these six ideas with your smartphone next time you’re giving portraits a go. Here are the six tips:

  1. Use portrait mode for non-human subjects.
  2. But don’t just use the dedicated portrait mode.
  3. Try different lighting and blur effects.
  4. Give burst mode a go.
  5. Consider accessories.
  6. Treat the smartphone like any other camera.

1. Use portrait mode for non-human subjects

Remember that portrait mode can generally be used for non-human subjects. This is great for photographing pets to really bring our their character.

2. But don’t just use the dedicated portrait mode

Rather than just portrait mode. This way you can achieve other things, such as shooting in Raw Mode for example (captures details better).

3. Try different lighting and blur effects

Lots of Portrait modes have effects that you can experiment with, including different levels of blur, different types of blur / bokeh and various lighting effects. It’s worth getting to know all of these.

4. Give burst mode a go

When photographing fast-moving people (such as children or sometimes pets), activating a burst mode can be a good way to get a candid portrait that occurs in a split second. Most modern smartphones will even automatically choose the best result for you.

5. Consider accessories

There are some useful portrait accessories that can work very well with smartphones, including reflectors – to bounce light (including of different tones) back at your subject for more even coverage which work particularly well for selfies.

6. Treat the smartphone like any other camera

Remember it’s you that makes the pictures and approach a portrait just as you would with anything else, remembering composition, direction, and even costumes and make-up.