Alex, this is lovely and Im totally jealous of the skill you used to pull off those freckles!

Alex, I really like this, such a witty expression.
Beautiful light too! a
As I was discussing somwhere else on the forum, being photographed is often the worst thing that can happen to a painting.
I am sure we are missing a lot on your work, but at least we can appreciate the great composition
Many thanks for posting
Ilaria

Thanks All!

Molly, how nice that you dropped in--I've been missing you and wondering how you are doing at Marvin's workshop. Glad you like this

Kim, stop it, you can paint any kind of skin! No need to be the least bit jealous. though you are sweet to say so.

Ilaria, The light was fun--very cool and silvery. Now that I think of it, you often paint cool light, too. Maybe I was inspired by your work. I'm glad you like her expression.

Since I posted this I started a minor remodeling job on Colette and I got carried away repainting parts of her face and hands--which explains, Linda, why I have not posted a closeup of the hands yet. The photographer forgot to take closeups, so I'm taking it back to get them done, and I'm going to mention the freckles issue and see if she can't get the closeups more true-to-life. I'll post the new photos when I have them.

New images--remodeling job!
 

Just wanted to let you alll know that Colette has undergone changes which you can view in the first post. The new images show some subtle remodeling of the face contours on the left side of the painting. I got a little carried away and worked a little on the highlights. I think these photos show the skin colors and freckles much more accurately, so I'm deleting the earlier photos. Soon I'll have a closeup of the hands.

This is a stunning portrait! The extremely cool paint in the chin area makes it very unique as well.

Very, very lovely. Congratulations!

Chris, sorry for the long delay in thanking you. So many good portraits have been posted recently and I kind of forgot about this, and about Linda's request to see a closeup of the hands.

Mark, thank you also. There was so much cool light, direct and reflected, in Colette's face especially. Very interesting to paint.

I just got the rest of my slides back. Somehow the photographer does a much better job than I can do even using my digital camera. I really appreciate all the nice, encouraging things you said!

Here are the hands:

Hi Alex--
Don't know how I missed this the first time around! It is so fresh and beautifully done! Those hands are spectacular. I too especially enjoy the way you've used the cools in her flesh tones. A real treat!

Terri, thank you! I really appreciate your taking the time to comment, especially on a painting that's been hanging around for a while. Glad you like the hands. I consider that a valuable compliment coming from you--you do children's hands so beautifully.

Alex, this is absolutely stunning! I love what you do with paint and love your stile. I hope you don't mind but I do have a suggestion. The background does not do this lovely girl justice. Again I look at the sofa and compare it to the background and come up with the same thing. They do not belong. One more qualm. More hear body, in the lights, above the bangs.

Sincere regards,
mischa