A small portrait of Anna

Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco · 01-11-2006, 08:07 AM

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 · 01-11-2006, 08:34 AM

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

Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco · 01-11-2006, 10:02 AM

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 · 01-11-2006, 10:30 AM

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 · 01-11-2006, 10:54 AM

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 · 01-11-2006, 01:14 PM

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

Jean

Terri Ficenec · 01-11-2006, 08:57 PM

Ilaria, this is lively and lovely... really like your use of color and how you've handled the paint in this one. (She appears young in the painting, I think... though it'd be hard to guess an exact age, which is how kids that age are anyway!) Kudos!

Michele Rushworth · 01-12-2006, 12:57 PM

Gorgeous, especially the color!

Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco · 01-23-2006, 07:49 AM

A few changes to this painting have brought me an inch nearer to her in likeness. I got used to having this painting, so I started appreciating its being slightly ambiguous.
I have made her neck a little thinner, and her head has aquired a different tilt, I also reworked the shadow area, so to match the amount of build up that was on the light side.
It was quite scary reworking, as usual I started with a few strokes and ended up painting everywhere, but I am happier now
Thanks for looking
Ilaria

Kimberly Dow · 01-23-2006, 09:15 AM

This is just so fresh and lovely - has to be my favorite work of yours.