Away matches

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

During my holidays in Rome I have tackled, not without difficulty, two commissions.
I really worked in non ideal conditions, at least for the portrait of the lady. My main problem was time. We had three sessions together at her place, and I also worked from a photo, but I only had five days all in all. I couldn't bring the canvas back to London so I had to declare it finished there and then.

Not that five days is not enough for the way I paint, it's just that I need more time in between them to assess what I am doing and just think !
The lady is over eighty and happy to be, she wanted the painting to show her age, but I still tried to soften the wrinkles a bit, I also tried to keep it "apricoty", I thought it would help.
She wanted me to lenghten her neck a little ( she then complained that she looks taller ... grr).
I am quite pleased with the result but I regret not working a bit more. I would like to get the painting back next time I go there to see if I can improve it.

The portrait sketch of the girl was much easier, she came twice and sat very still.
It is the second time I work o girls this age and I found they both had quite a large jaw (both already very tall), maybe this is a time in their growth where proportions are still changing, anyway I tried to give her a more harmonious oval without loosing the likeness.

These works were a bit of an experiment, I mean working away from my uterine studio, under the scrutiny of other eyes. I feel I still have way to go in aquiring the confidence and work at my best in these conditions, but if one doesn't start...
Ilaria

[Alexandra Tyng]

Ilaria, I think you should be commended on your courage and on your success in creating two beautiful works. I admire the simplicity and the use of asymmetry. That extra bit of couch on the right-hand side of the portrait of the woman really does something interesting to the composition. Likewise, the girl is slightly off-center with a doorway balancing her on the left. In both cases the likenesses look totally genuine and expressive and sensitive to the people portrayed. Although I know the frustrating feeling of not having enough time to think about your process and come to your own stopping place, other people can often appreciate and even love the unfinished quality because maybe they can catch a glimpse of your process.

[Chris Saper]

Dear Ilaria,

Both portraits are beautiful! Your canvases are fresh and exciting, and, I think, are complete successes! Congratulations!

[Margaret Ferguson]

Beautifully done, I love your palette and loose style. The sense of light is lovely.

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

Alex, Chris, Margaret, thank you so much for your support.

I just got an email: the lady has written her memoirs and wishes to include the photo of my painting, maybe it's going to go on the cover, the publisher is very well known.

I am excited but now I regret even more that I didn't have enough time to go deeper. I am waiting to learn if there's a deadline, I might be able to go back to Rome for a weekend and have another go at it.

Ilaria

[Steven Sweeney]

Originally Posted by Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco

I am excited but now I regret even more that I didn't have enough time to go deeper.

Even if you had the opportunity to make revisions, I would counsel you to resist the urge. The painting seems to me to be a completed version of what it is, brought along in its entirety to the same degree of finish, and I think it would have fantastic effect on a dust jacket or book cover.

If it is somehow "unfinished," then it is all the more appropriate to illustrate an unfinished life, captured in memoir.

[Carlos Ygoa]

Originally Posted by Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco

I really worked in non ideal conditions, at least for the portrait of the lady.

Ilaria,
For someone who was not happy with the working conditions, I would say you did beautifully! I like the way the elderly woman looks out at us with the confidence of youth. Your handling is up to your usual high standard in both pieces. Very good work!

[Allan Rahbek]

Ilaria,
you did a fine job on these two portraits, they are perfectly balanced and not at all "unfinished".
I also agree with Steven that you should use the woman in the sofa as it is, for the book cover. It will be a small copy of the painting so the sketchy character of it will work fine.

[David Draime]

Originally Posted by Chris Saper

Dear Ilaria,

Both portraits are beautiful! Your canvases are fresh and exciting, and, I think, are complete successes! Congratulations!

Chris stole my words. These are very intelligent paintings. They show a great deal of skill, as well as a certain openness, spontanaity - they are loose and probing, and that is what makes them so alive. You have a very identifiable style and it is a treat to see that style evolve and become more assured and confident with each new post.

And I love that blue door in the background. Masterful.

David

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

Steven, Carlos, Allan, David, your can't imagine how much I appreciate your words !
I heard from the publisher today, appearantly I have until the end of March for the final image. I am getting used to this image (it's going to be quite small on the cover though), but I dtill have doubts on her left shoulder which appears slightly larger making her head look smaller ( hence the comment about her looking taller, I think ). I will be going to Rome in a couple of weeks to deliver another portrait, and I think I might try and just making this correction.
I was also concerned with the dog: I didn't see it dry, and it was very very shiny compared tio the rest of the painting, I might paint over it with a little wax medium.
I promise I'm not going to do much, but this sudden separation was just to abrupt, I NEED to have another look at it !
I will post the last version so you can all tell me off !
Ilaria