Greta

[David Draime]

Here's one I started earlier this year but had to set it aside - only lately had time to finish. Another student of mine - one of the side benefits of teaching - lots of free models!

15" X 18" - oil on canvas

[Christy Talbott]

David, how beautiful.To me this is the height of modern classical portraiture, so exceptionally well done.

[Carlos Ygoa]

David,

You have such a straightforward but elegant way with your portraits. This has such a classic, timeless feel to it and your technical prowess is up to its usual high level, already expected from you. I am taken especially by your skin tones and especially the mouth area (in this aspect she reminds me a bit of that Scarlett actress so in vogue now...the one from the "Horse Whisperer")...very fine work!

[Patricia Joyce]

David,
It took my breath away when it came up on my screen. I just love it!!!
Congatulations, your work is so exciting to me.

[Thomasin Dewhurst]

Very fine work. I admire how you keep the paint rich at the same time as taking away the brush marks.

[Chris Saper]

Exquisite, David.

You have such a gift for subtlety, both in your approach to your subjects, and in the way you execute their portraits.

[Michael Georges]

Everyone else put it so well, that I can only second their comments! Really exquisite!

[David Draime]

Thank you everyone for your kind responses.

Carlos, I definitely was thinking about Scarlett Johansson when I was painting this - and you're right, it's the lips.

Originally Posted by Thomasin Dewhurst

Very fine work. I admire how you keep the paint rich at the same time as taking away the brush marks.

Thomasin, thank you. It's interesting what you say, because all the while I was painting this, I kept hearing myself say, "this is not how I want to paint." While I am fairly pleased with the result, I feel that maybe I am too much "taking away the brush marks." I sense that the real expressive power of paint on canvas has as much to do with the richness of the surface as with the illusion being created. But I don't want to just have interesting brushwork for it's own sake, without it meaning something, without it fully supporting the illusion. I see a lot of paintings out there that have all kinds of bravura brushwork, but which in the final analysis, don't add up to anything. If I get more "painterly," I want it to be because that's a better, more efficient way to convey the illusion - as well as the atmosphere, mood and emotion of the piece.

To temper my current frustration with the way I paint, I also remind myself that I haven't been painting very long, and that I just need to paint a whole lot more - and that in time I will find better - and quicker, more efficient - ways of laying down paint. So I'm not going to force anything. I will just let my natural curiosity lead me. I also think that working more from life will be key.

[Tom Edgerton]

Simply a fabulous piece....

[Allan Rahbek]

David,
I used to say that your pastels have the quality of oils, now I don't know what is up or down, you have the ability of anything. Very nice, subtle.... real.
Do you do loose works too? hinttttttt!!!!!!!!