Nikita
 

Nikita is a 16x20

This is striking. Very well done!
I love the strong light/shadow.
It might be my monitor but I'm having a hard time telling if that is her hair down her back or a backpack of some sort?
I'm sure it's clear on the painting. I'm just having a hard time seeing. (I'll blame my monitor but it's probably my aging eyesight!)

Your choice of the strong light works very well, and you've done a superb job on her sweater.

Well hello, Jerome!

Dare I say I think this is your best yet? What a tremendous use of beautiful colors...and so many! The subtle color changes work together so well on such an adorable subject. What a warm painting. I could look at if for hours. In fact, I am going to go look again. Great job!

Garth,
This piece is great...beautiful color, expressive and great lighting. Absolutely smashing.

Wow, nice job!

I can feel the sweater.

Brenda, Lisa, Richard and Kim,
Thank you for your nice comments. It was fun to paint and I

Beautifully done Garth! Far and away my favorite of yours so far! :thumbsup:

Garth,

This is such a gem. She looks like such a sweet girl, yet you've portrayed her in a way that is not corny or sentimental, just direct. I love the light, especially the reflected light. My only question is about the yellow reflected light on her chin. The thing is, it's such a great piece of color I almost hate to mention it, but the trouble is that my eye goes right to her chin. Maybe it's the photograph, and if it is, forgive me. But I think it is too yellow and too large an area. It makes me wonder how a white sweater could bounce back light that yellow, but where else could the color be coming from? Maybe if you tempered it a bit or added yellow to other shadow areas?

Alex

Very nice -- I think it is your best yet, too.

However I also agree with Alexandra in saying that the large, strong, light yellow area on her chin is distracting. It may have been "like that in the photo" but that's where, as artists, we are called on to make the painting better than the photo. A redder darker tone in that area is called for, I think.

Simply beautiful Garth,
so natural and straight forward and harmonious in all aspects. I would support the suggestion of toning down the yellow on the chin though.

Great job, looking forward to see more of your works. Thanks for showing it.

Allan