Two new portraits

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

These are portraits of two young girls. I was very happy when I received the commission, as I immediately was interested in their incredibly fair complexion.
I looked for an original composition and came up with the horizontal format looking back at some of my works and after having seen a painting at the Pompeo Batoni show at the National Gallery. Historically they refer to the "sopraporta", paintings to be hanged above doors ( even if I hope they will be hanged in a more visible position )
The paintings are a combination of several live sittings and some studio work from photos.

The younger girl was quite desperate about the whole thing, it was slightly cruel to make her sit and she was upset because she didn't want her hair up, but I still like the result a lot. If a portrait is also about the relationship with the sitter this is definitely a good example of it. Her sulky mood lasted for several sittings, even during the last one, when I hoped I could have a happier face, there were a couple of tears. I had no choice then to leave her pout.

I wanted the works to stand alone as paintings, hence the theatrical setting. One is " The letter", the other "`Young girl with fruit". I kept this idea in mind while working and it helped me to avoid getting into too much fuss.
As in my recent work color and drawing are becoming more relevant than solidity of the form.
The execution of the faces is not particularly realistic, even though I tried to have the sequins painted in a more illusionistic way just to relate with a more formal representation.
In both paintings I composed on the diagonal.
I will add a link to a higher resolution image later on, this format is penalized by uploading restrictions.

[Christy Talbott]

They are really lovely IIaria! The one you had your difficulties with is the one that I'm more drawn to. I don't even know the girl, but I'd enjoy this painting on my own wall.

edit: Also the composition and color is different and striking!

This is my second edit! Only just realized you were looking for a critique, initially I thought these were finished. The only critique I can offer is-- I wonder if the hands on the girl in the second painting could be better articulated. And also the first image seems rather dark, but I'm thinking that must be the photograph. I'll look for your higher resolution images later.

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

Christy, I rather post here than in the unveiling section, because I prefer to hear both negative and positive opinions.
More than a critique, it is a post mortem I am after, since the portraits were delivered today, something I can remember for future works.

High resolution images are here and here

[Peter Dransfield]

I also particularly like the pout. I also love the device of the hooks formed by the two apples in one and the feather in the other to return the viewer to the girls' heads. Lovely, direct and beautifully composed.

[Chris Saper]

Dear Ilaria,

Those hi-res images are just fabulous.Thanks for the link - your paintings have a luscious surface richness and such clean color.

The hi -res pics also show so much more information about the hands and other pictorial elements, and I very much love to see to the drawing and fresh sketch quality as the objects move away from the focal point.

It's a stretch to find any suggestions - the only thing I notice is that, in "The Letter" the vertical bar's placement and width above the girls shoulder create kind of a tangent with her upper right arm.

The colors and skin tones are gorgeous, and I also love the pout.

[Alexandra Tyng]

Brilliantly thought out and executed, Ilaria!

I love the compositions, the colors, the abstract shapes and grouping of elements, especially the fruit in the second painting. The two works are so individual it took me a while to realize that they "fit together," in a way--the curve of the table continues around from one to the other. Yet the backgrounds don't connect so it is not literal or contrived or symmetrical. I am guessing that they are the same size in reality.

The color is fresh and vibrant with your usual silvery, glowing sense of light.

My only criticism would be that the right arm of the older girl (the one holding the letter) does not quite make sense to me. It has to do with the way the arm is attached at the armpit and then turns out. The delineation of the armpit and the musculature of the upper arm bothers me.