Three brothers

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

Dear all, please comment, if you will, on these three paintings. It took me quite a long time to complete them, specially in keeping the same light and atmosphere throughout the three. The family had these very nice pieces of furniture that I wanted to put in, and there was a dining room in the background that disppeared as I thought it was not needed.

They are oil on linen (sized but not primed), 20 by 22 inches. I painted using B&W photos as a reference, and a final short sitting during which I corrected some details

The tough part was also to retain the proportions of the three boys so that the eldest actually looks bigger! I am not sure I succeeded on that with the little one. In any case they were painted separatly because one day each of them will have his own so in the long time the proportions won't mean much.

Please be kind, today I went to see the Royal portrait Society exhibition here in London, I am already humiliated enough!

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

Maybe this one is the best one

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

...and finally the third, I know I am not supposed to post my whole portfolio but these three works come as a whole. This is the one that gave me more troubles: the photo did not look like him.

It happens some times, so I had to repaint him half from life and half from a second photo under the vigilant eye of the mum.

Thanks for looking
Ilaria

[Garth Herrick]

Ilaria,

I am surprised no one else has commented on these three marvelous portraits. All three have such natural poses and you have given each such a fresh, simple presentation, with amazing consistency, and yet you have brought out the individuality and depth of character of each brother. I love the shape of the nearly square canvases and the painterly expressionistic surfaces. Your clients must be very pleased to be receiving such a set of strong paintings. You must be proud. These will really enhance your portfolio. Thanks for sharing these because they are an example of strength in a simple clear conception, and I think they are inspirational to see. Congratulations on a job well done!

Garth

[Julie Deane]

Hi Ilaria -

These look great! I like the freshness and the way you have kept the feel/color/execution similar to make a matched trio. The parents must be very pleased.

Julie

[Jane Bradley]

I agree with Garth - I am surprised no one commented on these before - These are very sensitive portraits,beautifully painted.

[Jean Kelly]

Ilaria,

I meant to comment on these earlier, but got caught up in other things. The treatment of their faces really caught my eye. I love how the faces and hands are really the center of attention. The rest of the canvas is soft , monochromatic, and painterly, but the faces are just full of life and color.

Since you have put these up for critique, I will mention one small nitpick. Check the perspective on the furniture, the first table in particular. The table looks as if it is distorted and crooked. Even if done in a painterly style it needs to read as a rock solid piece of furniture. I can see that there is some glare on the photo which may account what I am seeing. If so, please disregard my comment, (I always have problems with glare)! There is an awful lot to like about these three paintings.

Jean

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

Thank you very much for commenting. I owe very much to a book by John Norton, that pushed me to loosen up my outlines and leave the background unspecified.

I arrived at the photo session with sketches on postures, which helped the children not to feel too embarrassed, but to try and do their best to settle into those positions instead.

I think this approach has worked to give ME the entire responsibility on the design. I also restretched the canvases on a narrower frame halfway through, as I had started on squares, then had second thoughts.

There is an issue with the likeness of the third child again; despite some corrections I made the parents are not satisfied yet, but I agreed on one more sitting, hoping to improve it without damage.

Thank you again for your words, I also believe they are a step forward in my portfolio.

I.

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

Thank you Jean, I think you are right; there are so many things I looked at that I did not see this one. Also the photo of a painting is so merciless, isn't it?

I will do something to that table when I go back for the small boy. Thanks again for pointing that out.

I.

[Linda Brandon]

Hello Ilaria,

These are sensitive and well executed paintings. I especially like how the neutrals set off the warmth of the skin tones. It also seems to me you have a gift for facial expression.

By the way, what did you mean when you mentioned that these canvases were 'sized but not primed'?