A small portrait of Anna

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

Here is a portrait I am almost finished with, but first I would like your opinion!
All of a sudden I realized how androgenous this young girl is. She is twelve, but looks older in real life. I know that this ambiguity is very much a characteristic of that age, but now I just can't help noticing it every time I look at the painting.
Critiques welcome
Ilaria

[Judson Eneas]

I think that it's very impressionistic. Was this painted from life or from a photograph?

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

Judson, that was painted from a photo, to my regret, as I do prefer to paint live but can't always afford to refuse portraits when the sitters are not available !

[Alexandra Tyng]

Hi Ilaria,

I think this is a beautifully painted portrait head. Your color has a punch that I haven't seen before. (I've always admired your delicacy and luminosity, and this has those qualities, and more.) About the androgenous quality: the important question is, is it really present in the actual girl? If so, you have caught her essence. If not, maybe you have exaggerated certain features. Is this a commission? If so, you could ask for their final feedback before declaring it finished, and see how they react.

Alex

[Linda Brandon]

Hi Ilaria, I always love your bold style and palette and this is a wonderfully solid head. I think twelve is a perfect age to be - so much promise and hope in the future. She looks intelligent and level-headed here, I think you should be very proud of this painting!

[Jean Kelly]

I couldn't find anything to critique, Ilaria. If her parents are pleased I would stop right here. I love your style.

Jean

[Garth Herrick]

Dear Ilaria,

This is a gorgeous portrait I love your fearless and sparkling use of color, and your simple, concise chiseling of form. It's perfect already, and like Jean I would think it were done if I were the parent/client.

She's definitely a girl; there's no question in my mind, and she is quite lovely as you've represented her.

You just keep getting better and better!

Garth

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

Dear all,
your encouragement is really important to me. Thank you!
Internet was a sad place when the forum was down over Christmas, and I owe to it a great part of the progess I made, both for the comments on paintings and for the access it gave me to a whole huge global gallery and library on portrait painting.

I will be reworking some areas, especially now that I see it small on the screen I can see room for some improvements.
Thank you all again
Ilaria

[Allan Rahbek]

Ilaria,
Ditto to what has been said above......
This is so fresh and powerful and really shows what painting is all about.
I would suggest that you paint another canvas for the clients if they can not understand the quality

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

Allan, I have been knowing this girl's mother since we were children. I asked her if I could paint her daughter, and she gave me absolute freedom. I am confident she will be happy about it, also because it loooks so much like her as a child!
Thank you for your compliments, your posts are always interesting and I am happy you commented here
Ilaria