Portrait of Lee
 

Most of my portraits are painted with nothing smaller than a 1/4" bristle brush but this 15 year age young lady somehow suggested a finer treatment than I would normally employ. As I prepared to post these shots I noted a few things that I will adjust along her hair line and sleeve on our left. the freckles were a challenge as was the ever so slight smile she continued to show with only the slightest glimpse of a tooth.

Let me try again to attach my painting.....

And a close up of Lee....

Jim,

This a completely lovely painting!I like it best of any of yours I have seen.

Could you say a few words about how you dealt with the freckles?

Awe inspiring! I particularly like the hair and background, to say nothing of the delicacy of the face you've created.

The eyes have it
 

Those are the most captivating eyes I've ever seen. I could get lost in them. Beautiful, Jim.

Jean

Jim, that is one fabulous portrait! I'm awestruck.

You've got to add this one to your website.

What a range you have, Jim!

I think back on the "Old Seaman" with all it's textures, and then this delicate rendition so beautiful in its simplicity.

Jim,

Very "natural" flesh tones you have here. So many portraits you see nowadays are very warm.

Very refreshing.

Wow Jim, maybe it's time to get a new set of brushes! :)

This is absolutely beautiful. I especially love how you handled the values in her pale skin.

Bravo!

Such subtle, lovely temperature shifts in the shadow side of the face. I love this, Jim!

Beautiful!

Geri

Thanks all for your nice comments. If the term "Sweet Sixteen" had not been coined yet, it would be appropriate for this young lady.

The freckles were painted over dried layers as the painting progressed. I softly dabbed, drybrushed and blotted as needed to keep the values consistent with the lights and darks of the form. You most likely cannot see the lightest of these as they cross the top of the nose and the cheek to our left; and though the lightest ones do not show, I think the mind's eye will fill them in. I also varied the values and hues ever so slightly just as they occurred on the subject, but did not paint those other little blemishes that young teens often fight.