Greta

[Marvin Mattelson]

Beautiful!

[Julie Deane]

Lovely work, David!

[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....

[Linda Brandon]

This is so elegant, restrained, soulful - and I agree with Carlos - the mouth area is extraordinarily well handled. Bravo, David!

[Olena Babak]

Beautiful portrait! It has softness, atmosphere and wonderfully rendered form.
Congratulations!
Working from life is the key...

[Garth Herrick]

David,

A most beautiful portrait! The strength of this portrait is also embodied in the captured emotion. This is destined to be a top favorite of all time at this Forum. You are a wonderful painter.

Garth

[Mike McCarty]

David,

Such an accomplished work of art. Congratulations.

[David Draime]

Originally Posted by Mike McCarty

David,

Such an accomplished work of art. Congratulations.

Tom, Linda, Olena, Garth and Mike,

Coming from such accomplished artists as yourselves, that really means a lot!

[Enzie Shahmiri]

Very nice David!