It seems to me that the reason the "old masters" painted more subdued expressions (no teeth) is because they didn't have photographs to work from that captured those brief flashing smiles. We think of these traditional old portraits and that's what has created the aesthetic we often try to emulate today.
I'm happy to paint a portrait either way, depending on the character of the subject and what happens during the photo sessions. Sometimes the irrepressible joy of a kid is what a parent wants to capture and remember and a beaming smile is the only way to express that.
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Hybrid Mode
