Linda, thanks for the closeups. Your work is beautiful at close range, too. It's aways interesting to me to "hear" artists discussing how to define portraiture. I don't think it is posssible to clearly define the boundaries between portraiture, figurative art, and landscape. There are all sorts of variations. This forum focuses on traditional portraiture; that makes me think of Sargent's plein aire paintings of his friends in landscapes. Of course he's not the only one to do this--I just happened to think of his art. It's arguable, but I would say these works are just as much meant to be portraits of specific people than they are meant to be landscapes or figurative works. Though your work is unique, there's plenty of tradition to support what you are doing.

Thanks for your support Alexandra. On the discussion of portraiture in it's place in art, I think it's also that much more intriguing when you consider that it is by nature a collaborative process between client and artist - more that I think any other general facet of art. We have to meld the artist's personality with the subjects. How we choose to include ourselves in the painting in up to us. A commission is the honor to being the medium by which someone else reveals themselves, AND being asked to exert an artistic voice in harmony with that. I know that's an obvious thing to say but to me it is the heart of the daily fun of this career.

NOW you're talking, Linda! I'm with you on this one.

I'm catching up, here - looking around at all the stuff I've missed over the past couple months. I HAD to comment on this one. Fine, fine execution in a genre that's right up my alley. Terrific!

Linda,
I love this piece. It reads so well and the composition is smashing. To use the new phase we are workiing over on the forum, It has retina burn factor. I also like the looseness of the brushwork that reads so well from further back. Congratualtions on a wonderful piece of work.

How in theworld did I miss this gorgeous painting!? Beautful.

Me too! I love the impressionistic treatment of the foliage, which implies life and movement. Spectacular, Linda!

Garth

Very nice Linda! I also think this is my favorite piece of yours to date.
Last I remember, you had just taken the plunge to paint full time. Looks like it was a good decision and I hope you have many more commissions waiting to do.

Thanks everyone! My back is killin me lately, but love being so swamped with work. This season has been particularly fun because, as with projects like this one, clients are letting me explore a variety of compositions and techniques. I'm having fun and it's so nice to see this forum notice!

By the way, does the level of work of the artists on this forum is getting better and better? It sure seems to me that we're seeing many of tomorrows top dogs emerging...

:-) Linda