Clarisse
 

This is Clarisse, who is almost 2 years old.

16" X 20". Oil.

Oh ! the red cheek is less saturated red on the original, more pink.

Marina, this will win a price, no doubt.
Sweet and evocative,
Ilaria

I agree with Ilaria. Definitely looks like contest material.
I like the concept of the branch very much. And of course technically sound.

Very beautiful, Marina.

Marina, . Well done! Your work certainly expresses true determination as you drive for perfection. I am so happy to see that you approach your art with a inner passion. You have probably noticed that the vision brightens as you feed this passion.

Marina,

I love how strong and un-cutesy this portrait is. At the same time you've caught the look and feel of the child. As with your other portraits of children/babies, you've contrasted the soft skin, delicious curves and silky texture of the hair with a compelling artistic statement.

Ilaria, Carlos,
thank you for your vote of confidence!

Cynthia, Mischa, Alex,
thank you very much for your nice comments.
Technically, it was a new step for me : much more freedom in the brushwork, thicker, and the use of black in the skin tones... And conceptually, it was a very interresting subject : her name " Clarisse" come from the light, so I wanted her to be very luminous. Then the idea of the branch of an old apple tree and a butterfly appeared to me like a vision. Now it's easy to imagine the meanings of this : the family tree , the young beeing ready to fly away toward her future, or something else... :)

I love the way you've done her hair (can you post closeups?) and the optical red on the rim of her shoulder is delightful! What a beautiful piece.

Marina--

Thanks so much for posting this. It's terrifically strong conceptually, and a reminder for me to think more at the beginning and to stretch oneself with new ideas.

--TE

What better way?

Marina, this is awesome!

It somehow reminds me of those classical paintings of Christ with John the Baptist (?), but with much more "umph". I love it!

Michele, Tom ,Enzie,
thank you.
Tom, yes the concept is something for me as important as the technical execution. During the Portrait art festival in Toronto, a sculptor listed four types of artists:
Those with technical skills but no creativity.
Those with creativity but no technical skills.
Those with both.
Those with "business skills"

Really lovely, thanks for the close-ups!

Oh how beautiful, Marina! That red-gold hair against the blue skintones of her temple...wow....

So, so lovely.

Daring composition, well executed - brava!

Enzie, Julie, Chris,
thank you very much, your comments mean a lot for me.

Thanks for the close-ups Marina. That hair is amazing, and the whole painting is beautiful.

Thank you, Heidi,
I was very excited with this project even before I began to paint : I knew the skin tones and the hair would be fun to paint. And it was !

Oh, what a treat!

jean

Thank you, Jean.

Dear Marina,

How could a portrait be so powerful and delightfully sweet at the same time?! You've done it again! This is marvelous and so evocative as a presentation of this little cherubic girl. I love this. Your technique is fabulous too! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Garth

Thanks a lot, Garth!
Reading your comment is very supportive for me.