[John Bruso]

This is the first time I have posted to this section. I apologize that my user name still says "John Bruso," my name is Mara.

This portrait is the first true portrait I have done of my 7 year old daughter, Annie. It is 16 x 20, oil on canvas. It took me 4 hours to complete, using a combination of life and a digital image we took during the session. I had three goals for this piece:

1. To capture her gorgeous little profile

2. To use color and energy rather than details to portray her spirited personality

3. To start and complete a painting in one afternoon (I went out and purchased the canvas, primed it, painted on it and signed it in one afternoon! I was VERY pleased with myself)

What I like about this painting is that I found a rare quiet moment on Annie's face, but the painting still "feels" energetic. Annie is an amazing little person with more life inside her than anyone I have ever known. I would love feedback of any kind. I would have posted this to the critique section, but I just brought it home from the framing shop and it is already on my wall (Nevertheless, it is pretty intimidating for me to post here). Thank you for this opportunity.