Struggled with this one!
 

Well, I really had to work for this one...

The face in shadow was difficult reference to work from as I didn't want to make this fair little girl too dark. But had already made the mistake of showing this particular reference to the client and suggesting I really liked the pose, could we reshoot for better lighting. Well, we tried to reshoot, but were not able to get anything near as relaxed and natural the second time around --and I was pressed by the client to use what we had ( Promise to self: Next time hide any reference photos that don't quite cut it! :bewildere ). So, this is finally done, I think, pending client approval.

Not Yet Titled
16"x20"
Oil on Linen

This is beautiful Terri. Your struggle doesn't show on the painting itself - and there is the best compliment!

Terri,

This is beautiful! Great abstract composition and color harmonies are at work in this. You are skilled to keep the portrait both very finished and very soft. Your struggle is not apparent. I like the lighting too.

Garth

Terri

I love your paintings! And I'm sure the client will be delighted with this one.

I second Garth's insight: what struck me right away were the color harmonies. Beautiful work, Terri. What an an extensive list of satisfied clients you must have! Your work has such a warm softness to it, and this style is especially effective with children as your subject.

I'm glad you included a closeup of the bunny. Oh, I meant hands!

Very nice, Terri. What if we used this in the main gallery? I could crop on the sides so it's more of a closeup.

Terri, this is really beautifully painted, with lots of touches that tell the viewer that you really know what you're doing (i.e., that necklace and its shadow is wonderful, for example). You have a fine, soft touch with children. Congratulations on another success!

Kim, Garth, David, Rob--Thanks! After repainting her face so many times, it is so good to be done with this. . . and I'm encouraged that you think she came out alright :)

Cynthia, Thanks! If you can get a good crop and would like to do that, please feel free. (You might find it goes a little flat without that dark burgundy area off the left side though. . .)

Linda, thanks for noticing the locket. That's the last detail added, just this morning-- the client really wanted it included, but it didn't show in the primary reference (it hung too far down behind her arm) so I had to 'borrow' it from a different photo and fudge it a bit.

Thanks again!

Lovely
 

This is just lovely - so soft and natural. Congratulations!

Julie, Thanks!

Terri, this is lovely!

Jean

Terri-
I just found your posting and wanted to add my congratulations. I agree with all of the above and also feel the client will be very pleased.

Jean and John, thanks! :)

You took the lemons and made lemonade. No one looking at this painting would ever have guessed you struggled at all. Beautifully done.

Thanks Marvin... I still keep looking at this one and trying to decide if I'm satisfied with it. You may have just saved me from pulling out the brushes and having another go at her face! :bewildere

Sorry to reply late to this one. Very nicely done, especially with the girl's expression, she looks cute and up to mischief. The composition is perfect, the colors have a nice flow as it moves across the painting. :thumbsup:

Jimmie,
Thanks so much!

Struggled
 

Terri, glad we can't see that you struggled. Folks of this skin tone are tricky aren't they? I'm sure they liked the piece.

Hey there Tim!
It is a tricky skin tone,so softly colored it wants to look gray, and her face being so in shadow made it difficult to find the right balance value and saturation-wise. Still not sure it's 'right' and have had a hard time getting a jpeg that shows it the way it looks in real life... (I've got a good Paint Shop Pro image, but it loses something converting to the jpg...) :bewildere
The client's on vacation and won't see it until next week. So guess that's when I'll really know if I've hit it right! ;)

Terri,
What a beautiful soft piece. I love her expression.
Jerome

Thanks Garth! (or is it Jerome??)
We caught that same little mischievous half smile in several of the shots from the original reference shoot, so I had a pretty good idea that it was a characteristic expression for this little girl. The attempted reshoot for better lighting was tagged onto the tail end of a photo session for her brother... not the best idea! :bewildere

Couldn't help myself...
 

After finishing her brother and trying them side by side... I just had to freshen the colors in her face a bit. :bewildere
OK. I think I'm really done now.

Hi, Terri! Chiming in late here - these are a lot softer than the father/daughter painting you did recently, but they're still beautifully done. I especially like the girl and her expression, although I'm sure the parents will be extremely pleased with both paintings.

It's really interesting to watch you develop and change!

I know I am way behind as well but being new I couldn't resist letting you know how beautiful this is to me. You really have a knack among other things for the softness of children's skin (I am jealous of them). Simply put, it is lovely.

Leslie, Lisa, thanks... caught me by surprise to see replies to this today! Delivered both paintings to the client a week and a half ago... but it makes my day to hear that you both like this one.

Leslie, I'm not sure that it's that much softer in life (certainly I didn't go as dark on her face as the shadows in the Dad's on the other, but I'm not sure if that's what you mean?)

Terri, I think what I'm reacting to is the softness of the lines and edges; they seemed more defined in the father/daughter painting, and certainly in your other work. Which is not to say that one is more appealing than the other - it's just different. Can't wait to see what you do in your next one!