Absolutely superb Garth! :) Like the others, I notice and love the subtle color changes in the boy's face. The hand is amazing too. I don't think I'd like this any more than I do now if the painting was made more 'finished'.

Great light! And I love the low point of view.

Paint handling is superb...don't touch it.

Wonderful spirit...

Best--TE

Thanks Christy and Tom,

It's good to get a sense of when to quit; I am still working on that sense. It seems less fussing is indeed more; while doing more finishing yields less appeal.

Garth

A very nice piece, Garth. Such clarity of light and colour! (And I love the rabbit in the backgound. Great marks that look abstract close up, but from a distance make a solid sculptural form. The same thing for the flowers and light behind the rabbit. Your genius is there with or without your conscious help.)

Robert's grandfather danced with Jane!?
 

Thanks Thomasin!

As an aside, and I know it is off topic, yet extraordinary: I just learned from both parties that the ever popular Jane of Jane and Iona was once the cotillion dance partner of Robert's grandfather (of the same name). My client world just got smaller! I visited Jane last week, and while she browsed through my portfolio, she experienced d

Dear Garth,

Such a refreshing piece! I can learn a great from the way you have handled th subtle turns fromt he jaw to the throat. Thnaks for sharing this portrait:)

Dear Garth,

What can I say that hasn'talready been said?! Just lovely! :)

Garth, this is so nice and relaxed. The handling of the paint corresponds completely with the subject.
I normally like your paintings all the way through, and if I were the mother of this boy I would also have bought this work as it is. And I can't really perceive it as a sketch or a preparatory work, but for me is absolutely complete and well solved eveywhere.

I understand that in official portraiture you might need to get to a more refined stage, but it is really a treat to see you in everyday clothes...

Ilaria

Garth, fantastic as usual! Love your value control... and the composition is perfect...
Would love to see the original!
More, More, More!
Tony

This is sensitive color management, subtlely modeled, tasteful, yet energetic and fresh. Don't you dare call it a sketch! You just made it look easy. We all know that it isn't.

Well, Garth, can you tell we are loving your looser work? Keep it going!