Portrait in Progress

"Daria", oil on canvas, 31 x 43 inches

This is a portrait I have been working on recently. This is one of my more formal images, however I still included my signature flowers. In addition I think that the sitter has a certain friendly warmth as well a contemplative, questioning air. On another note I also like the frame on this picture. Gold gives a very warm and glowing vibe to a painting.

The woman in this painting is also one of my good friends. We had a lot of great conversations over the weeks on in which the portrait sittings took place. This painting was originally going to be just a head and shoulders, which I did end up painting as well as a study (occasionally I make these, here is an example). In the end though I decided to make the final image go to the chair so that it turned into a half length portrait. I feel like this gave the painting more movement, and also more depth because this allowed for a darker fall of light.

I mention these things because I want to elucidate my thought process and painting process a little more. It is quite like the manner in which I come up with compositions; I have an idea that is more or less specific, however when it comes time to pose the model I will see something else and completely deviate from my original course. I guess what I am trying to say is that I need to work with what I have in front of me. The colors, shapes, and lines that I see up on the model stand often generate new poses for me.