Full Body Portraits

Many of the commissions I have had lately have been for full body portraits. In these pieces, I enjoyed the unity of the background and subject, with colorfully muted backgrounds and vividly detailed figures.

The Trevi Fountain

The Trevi Fountain
24x36 Soft Pastel

I have spent the past several months working away on many commissions...portraits, dogs, flowers, and even a fish. Since most will be Christmas gifts, I cannot share them until after the holidays, but the largest one can now be displayed. This large pastel of the Trevi Fountain in Rome was a very triumphant piece for me. When I normally create a piece of art, I have many moments of "completion," which bring a sense of accomplishment and energy: the sky is finished, the tree line complete, the grass is in place, etc. On the Trevi Fountain, where almost the entire piece is one unit, I worked for several days, layering colors, never completing any area. The whole 24x36 inch board was unfinished until I put on those last highlights...then "ta da!" it appeared. All that was left was the bright aqua water swirling beneath the impressive figures perched upon the rocks.