Elisa

This is Elisa, daughter of long-time friends of mine. We took this picture one day when the family was visiting.  I hadn't seen them in a some time and was stunned at how tall, elegant and gorgeous Elisa had become.  I just had to try to paint her.  You can tell this painting was created using a photograph because she is smiling.  When models sit for you, they rarely smile - too hard to keep these muscles activated.  But my hope is that this painting, this smile was conveyed as naturally and that it didn't feel stilted when you looked at her.