Valentino--

Very nicely composed and rendered. I like the subtlety in the lighting also.

Grate job Valentino!

I can appreciate the way you have managed the pose which combined with the sitter makes your painting quite stunning.

Very nicely painted, Valentino. In addition to all the other comments here, I really admire how you have managed the folds of his dark robe.

Thank you. For the blue parts of the robe I used the mixture of W&N Thalo (red shade) + Schmincke Prussian blue.
Since those two paints would make (too) high chroma tints, I neutralized the mixture a bit with W&N Payne's gray and grey made with Schmincke Mars Black + Flake.
I added Mars black in the Thalo/Prussian blue mixture for the darkest parts of the robe, as well.

It's a very impressive strong portrait Valentino. Conratulations for it! I've seen your work before and think I'd recognize it anywhere. I like the unique way you seem to simplify the images.