One of several paintings haunting me. I’m holding myself to higher standards lately, hanging onto nearly finished pieces, putting them aside for weeks, seeing them anew and correcting. Only after many improvements, am I letting them go.
There are a couple more waiting to be released…soon…maybe..;)
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The eyes and your face expressly gripping and the shadow in the back is awesome!
Great painting Elena. 🙂
Thank you so much!
You’re most welcome. 🙂
Hi Elena, I am so sorry to hear about your pinched nerve. Those things are dreadful. I hope the issue will soon resolve itself. Between selling a house and moving, I have been away from WordPress for a while. I missed your wonderful paintings! Warm wishes, Marian
Hi Marion! It’s getting better, thanks so much:) Moving, a full time job. Wishing you all the best in your new home. Thanks for visiting!
How I admire the expressive quality.Look at those eyes,the shadow of the eyelid!Amazing.The sharp piercing look builds a hidden conversation with the viewer.Immediately draws attention,arises questions,so hard to fathom out the mystery.Great art Elena!
I’m so pleased that you find the piece interesting. Thank you so very much:)
There is so much mystery in this face, fabulous…
robert
Thank you very much, Robert.
I love to hear of you digging in..this is so worth it – how haunting and compelling she is..so many ways to read her. I love how the black is not all so black too, something is living and breathing in here for sure..
Thank you, Cath. “Digging in” is exactly what I’m doing. Great phrase!
Wow. This is amazing. I can’t take my eyes off it. Totally captivating!~Rita
Thanks so much, Rita!
Beautifully haunting!
Thanks so much, Resa!
Haunting and absolutely amazing!
THanks so much, Donna!
Elena, I am speechless! This one will stay with me for a while is all I can say.
Many, many thanks, Uday.
Definitely haunting and powerful. I understand the desire to hold yourself to a higher standard, though I’m not sure I’d be able tell if something of yours failed to meet any high standard. They are always terrific, but I do the same with my writing (not that you’d be able to tell with my current goofy post – some fine art on display). I think the older and more experienced we get, having struggled with whatever our chosen media is, the more we realize that the quality we seek only comes with intense patience.
Not surprising, well said, James! Age and experience teach us so much. It’s too bad that our eyes and hands are not able to produce what they could have if we knew this twenty years ago:) Thanks so much.
I’m always amazed at how someone can be a great writer or artist at a young age. Experience and building up those mental muscles are such a crucial part of the process. It’s a big mystery. Past lives maybe 🙂 I’ll be a much better writer in my next incarnation (if environmental issues haven’t wiped out the human race).
REally funny James, but I’ve had similar thoughts!:)
Great minds;)….
Ooooh! Love this.
Black velvet richness and mystery.
Thank you, Karen!
An ivory face emerging from the shadows – there is no single shade of the black; it has much depth and distance. The mystery seems to go on forever.
An art teacher of mine once said that before you finish a piece, hold it in front of the mirror. I’ve found more than once that the picture you see tells you a different story.
VEry wise, Aubrey. I use the mirror, turning the painting upside down, taking photos of it, to change perception while working on every painting. Thanks so much.
Very striking! Your work is the best, thank you!
Much appreciated, Resa!
Magnificent! You are fascinating!
THanks so much, Daisy!
So beautiful and impressive. Fascinated me, dear Elena, Thank you, love, nia
Thanks so much Nia!
Wonderful – such a fabulous series, full of mystery and emotion.
Many thanks, Anna.
Well ok, but I don’t see how your standards can be any higher! But of course as the artist you know what you are looking for. Haunting is just the right word for this. Haunting and compelling.
Many thanks, Cindy:)
A stunning piece of work Elena, your tenacity and discipline is an inspiration to us all. I admire your ability to stand back and question, re-evaluate and then push the limits. You’re an inspiration ~
Mary, I’ve just been visiting YOUR blog. I reflect your words back deservedly to you. Thank you:)
You are a gracious lady my friend, thank you so much Elena and for the incredible visits you paid my blog today. Your words of encouragement and support stay right with me – it inspires me to keep on, keeping on. Hope you are continuing to mend – your work is incredibly brilliant in execution, can’t wait to see the other pieces.
I absolutely love this, Elena, it’s magical and breathtaking. You have a good strategy to let the work wait a bit before finishing, and come back several times to make improvements and corrections, I like that attitude.
THank you, Petra. Yes, I’m slowing the process down and I’m generally happier with the results. But it takes so much time…:)
absolutely beautiful! can’t wait to see the rest!
Work’in on them:) Thank you!
I can’t wait to see the other unfinished pieces. Well done. Cheers Markus
Thanks much, Markus.
Wonderful, Elena. Love the weight you’ve brought to the image. Interesting that you are working slower.
Thank you, Richard. Yes, after years of experimenting, I’m focussing a bit more.
Perfect name! Just gorgeous!
Thanks so much, Robin!
Superb, Elena. Wonderful lighting, composition, and expression
Much appreciated, Derrick.
Pretty damn perfect.
Jeez, Louise! Thank you, Marie!
Good to see you and this fab piece, Elena. I like the way the face comes out from the darkness.
Thanks so much, Ashley.
Powerful expression! Love it.
THank you, Tiny.
love this
Thanks, Terry.
This is beautiful and strong!!!
Thanks so much!
I like the way you painted the face coming out of the darkness. It is a beautiful image.
Thank you, Victoria.
Hauntingly beautiful indeed…. Is she in mourning? Your talent knows no bounds Elena..
She might be. Thank you so very much Helen for your generous praise and support:)
Stunning!
Hello, John. How are you! I appreciate your supportive comments. I’ve just placed your book in my Amazon cart. A gift for someone who will devour its contents. Also a gift for me, supporting our creature cousins.
Wonderful! By do please, please, please remember, it’s a working example of Poe’s Law 🙂
I’ll certainly pass that on:)
Wait. What?! This is insane, Elena! So
So
Stunning!
Thank you so very much, Ray!:)
Very effective indeed – well titled – and the face occupies less than one eighth of the canvas! I hope you’re restored to good health.
Feeling better, Louis! Thank you:)
You are the queen of chiaroscuro and the 3 R’s; Review, Reflect, Revisit. Practice makes perfect. Well done.
So lovely of you to say, Gloria. Thank you!
…. the chiaroscuro here is so dramatic and spellbinding
Many thanks:)
Tremendous! Beautiful light and shade here. 🙂
THanks so much, Rebecca!:)
A stunning painting Elena! it’s difficult to see how you can possibly be holding yourself to a higher standard given the exceptionally high standard you always work to!
So very much to learn and so little time. Thank you, Adrian!
I found myself looking at this for quite some time Elena …. her secrets are held close …
Beautiful .
Thank you, Poppy! Yes, we’ll never be privy to all of her secrets;)
This is beautiful. The evocative face emerging from the darkness is extremely effective and powerful.
Thanks so very much, Laura.
Wow! Your talent never ceases to amaze me.
You are ever so kine, Amanda. Thank you:)
You’re very welcome 🙂
Beautiful!
Thank you, Isabel!
Truly a stunning piece. I like the contrast between the black and the light on her face.
Thank you, Jess.
In my eyes, what haunting is the delusion this woman got inside of her.
Your blush captured it almost unconsciously.
Glad you think so . Thank you, Yoshi.
Beautiful, beautiful use of black! I love how the light falls on her face.
Thanks so much, Jeff!
That’s my biggest bugaboo… holding myself back to reflect.
I know. Not easy right away, to hold back.
I don’t hold back well and have found myself in a deep hole more often than I want.
You would think at 61, I would have learned more patience.
Barry, I’m 61 as well and just starting to get it as well:)
Your method makes a lot of sense. I do it a lot, too, and have felt better about the results after revising. Best of luck with future projects. xo
Thanks so much Sabiscuit. Best to you as well:)
Aptly named. You capture emotion so well!
Thanks so much, Carol!