Aria

[Peter Dransfield]

Absolutely stunning technique. I haven't used pastels in a generation and when I did it was in a Degas style hatched fashion and I would love to know how on earth you get your darks to be so dark and dense?

[Tom Edgerton]

David, this is beautiful. The hallmark of your portraits to me is a real feeling for the subjects. They always seem very much alive--your technique is the support on which the character rests.

[Chris Saper]

Dear David,

This portrait is so exquisite and so sensitive. It is always a pleasure to see your work.

[Cynthia Daniel]

Gorgeous as always.

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

I second the Linda likeness !!
Astonishing technique, David, reaching this degree of finish in pastel !
A stunning portrait
Ilaria

[Enzie Shahmiri]

David it is beautiful and superbly handled. I am especially drawn how you have managed, with what seems a few strokes and just the right amount of value change, to make the fabric read so well as velvet.

[Alexandra Tyng]

David, I like this very much. As usual you have put so much feeling into your portrayal of the subject. The warm, deep colors and texture of the velvet add to the general emotional tone. It occurred to me that you might have been dissatisfied with this at first because you weren't saying all you wanted to say. I wonder if you should try a couple more of her, just to see what else you could say. She looks like a person you could paint/draw several times without getting tired of her.

[David Draime]

Peter, Tom, Chris, Cynthia, Ilaria, Enzie and Alex, thank you so much for your thoughtful and kind responses.

Peter, in this portrait most of the real darks are simply black which is easy enough to achieve. But the problem I encounter is getting the dark colors as they emerge out of the black background/shadows. To achieve this kind refined finish, I use pastel pencils. I enjoy working this way, but the darks in pencil form (aside from black) are not that dark. So for the really dark tones, I have to switch to some Unison sticks I have (and I don't have that many) which are dark and beautiful. A little awkward but I make it work for me. I'm not sure why the pastel pencils don't go very dark - maybe because they would be too soft and wouldn't hold up to sharpening...? I don't know...

Ilaria, I don't think I'm going to look at Aria again without thinking of Linda! I'm curious what Linda would think of the likeness?

Enzie, you're right, it just takes a few strokes of the right value and chroma to achieve the look of velvet and for that reason it was quite easy. It makes me want to do more portraits with velvet!

Alex, you are extremely perceptive! I think you hit the nail on the head, and as it turns out, I am working on an oil portrait of Aria - and I'm sure there will be more. She's becoming my "go to" model. Not only is she beautiful, but she understands and is enthusiastic about the look I'm after. She has an extensive wardrobe of period costumes, dresses, and understands how important clothing choices are in a painting. She is a delight to work with. Thanks.