Laura at 3 in pink

[Sarah Griffin Thibodeaux]

hi, all,

Here is a new portrait I delivered recently:

She's an active 3-year-old who loves to make faces and climb upside down. I was pleased that her parents liked her serious side too.

cheers,
sarah

[Chris Saper]

Sarah,

Terrific painting, fresh and lively with strong brushwork and color. Tell us more - size, whether you did this from life, the surrounding circumstances... congrats

[Sarah Griffin Thibodeaux]

Hi Chris,

Thank you for replying.

Here is my process with this painting.

I wish I could say I painted it from life, as is my preference. I believe there is something important that comes through with a live sitting that can't be done in working from photographs.

However, she was 2 turning 3 so I turned to my camera.

We did a photo session during which time she climbed and twisted and made faces--she's such a character. I was worried I wouldn't have any shots to work with.

I tried a painting with another pose and painted it several times but it just wasn't right. In the meantime I did another photo shoot with the parents to see if I could get the right shot.

In the process I learned that the parents had an appreciation for their daughter's serious side. Once I realized that, I remembered the perfect shot from our first session.

After that difficult photo shoot when I didn't think I had any good shots, there was the shot. As we were leaving, in the doorway she and her father said goodbye to me, suddenly the light was perfect. She was cast in a cool light and suddenly there was the portrait.

I took it back to my studio and worked on it. This painting was done in one "sitting"--alla prima.

This was after several attempts at another pose . . . and two photo shoots and several weeks time.

I put the brushwork on and then left it alone before overworking.

Originally the dress was white but the the mother asked for it to be pink , Laura's favorite color. So I made that change.

I do my best to paint from life as much as I can so that I can bring the same effects to the work from photos.

It is an ongoing struggle as I can't always pull of something that I'm satisfied with. . . does anyone else feel the same?

Again, thanks for your response . . . .

cheers,
Sarah

p.s. oh, and size is 16" square (oil on linen)