A small portrait of Anna
 

Here is a portrait I am almost finished with, but first I would like your opinion!
All of a sudden I realized how androgenous this young girl is. She is twelve, but looks older in real life. I know that this ambiguity is very much a characteristic of that age, but now I just can't help noticing it every time I look at the painting.
Critiques welcome
Ilaria

I think that it's very impressionistic. Was this painted from life or from a photograph?

Judson, that was painted from a photo, to my regret, as I do prefer to paint live but can't always afford to refuse portraits when the sitters are not available !

Hi Ilaria,

I think this is a beautifully painted portrait head. Your color has a punch that I haven't seen before. (I've always admired your delicacy and luminosity, and this has those qualities, and more.) About the androgenous quality: the important question is, is it really present in the actual girl? If so, you have caught her essence. If not, maybe you have exaggerated certain features. Is this a commission? If so, you could ask for their final feedback before declaring it finished, and see how they react.

Alex

Hi Ilaria, I always love your bold style and palette and this is a wonderfully solid head. I think twelve is a perfect age to be - so much promise and hope in the future. She looks intelligent and level-headed here, I think you should be very proud of this painting!

I couldn't find anything to critique, Ilaria. If her parents are pleased I would stop right here. I love your style.

Jean

Dear Ilaria,

This is a gorgeous portrait I love your fearless and sparkling use of color, and your simple, concise chiseling of form. It's perfect already, and like Jean I would think it were done if I were the parent/client.

She's definitely a girl; there's no question in my mind, and she is quite lovely as you've represented her.

You just keep getting better and better!

Garth

Dear all,
your encouragement is really important to me. Thank you!
Internet was a sad place when the forum was down over Christmas, and I owe to it a great part of the progess I made, both for the comments on paintings and for the access it gave me to a whole huge global gallery and library on portrait painting.

I will be reworking some areas, especially now that I see it small on the screen I can see room for some improvements.
Thank you all again
Ilaria

Ilaria,
Ditto to what has been said above......
This is so fresh and powerful and really shows what painting is all about.
I would suggest that you paint another canvas for the clients if they can not understand the quality

Allan, I have been knowing this girl's mother since we were children. I asked her if I could paint her daughter, and she gave me absolute freedom. I am confident she will be happy about it, also because it loooks so much like her as a child!
Thank you for your compliments, your posts are always interesting and I am happy you commented here
Ilaria

I am going to have to agree with Allan. If they don't love it, paint them another one. This is spectacular. I see no androgeny or any other problem, just a very lovely painting. Janet

Ilaria, this is lively and lovely... really like your use of color and how you've handled the paint in this one. (She appears young in the painting, I think... though it'd be hard to guess an exact age, which is how kids that age are anyway!) Kudos!

Gorgeous, especially the color!

A few changes to this painting have brought me an inch nearer to her in likeness. I got used to having this painting, so I started appreciating its being slightly ambiguous.
I have made her neck a little thinner, and her head has aquired a different tilt, I also reworked the shadow area, so to match the amount of build up that was on the light side.
It was quite scary reworking, as usual I started with a few strokes and ended up painting everywhere, but I am happier now
Thanks for looking
Ilaria

This is just so fresh and lovely - has to be my favorite work of yours.

Ilaria--this is an incredible painting. I love it even more now. Referring back to your original concern, she definitely has a more feminine appearance though the change is very subtle.

My only nitpick is that the blue reflected light under her chin has a little too much solidity. To me it almost looks like a chin strap or cloth band.

Alex

Thank you very much Kimberley, I really appreciate your compliments!
Alex, you are right, the painting is still on the easel, I walk by it and give it a little touch from time to time, that blue will definetely be the next thing I'll address.
Thanks a lot to both
I.