1.26.2010

Girl in Pink Dress

girl in pink dress painting

9x12 in., oil on linen panel
SOLD

This is a larger and more finished version of a small sketch I did a few years ago. It's been on my mind for some time as I've wanted to revisit this subject for awhile... so it was nice I had the opportunity to do it recently. I was reminded again how simplicity in composition strengthens the focus of a subject. I originally painted a sun hat lying beside the girl but realized it took away from the focal point of the painting... the girl. Fran, the lady who commissioned this piece suggested that the hat was a distraction and after taking a fresh look at it had to agree with her. So I took it out. We both were happy with the result.

I thought you might like to see the first version before I removed the hat. What do you think?

9 comments:

Vicki said...

"Girl In Pink Dress" is absolutely stunning! It's always been one of my favorites. The newer version is even better.....just beautiful! Vicki

Dorte said...

I loved the original! The new one lookes too simple. Maybe I feel this way because I fell in love with the first one,-)
Love from Dortea in Denmark

Regula Scheifele said...

Wonderful, both of them. I like how the second one tells a story (a stroll in the park on a summer afternoon), the second one is definitely more focused on the girl in her lovely dress. Wonder what she's dreaming about...?
Regula from Switzerland

Lois Primeau said...

Exquisite! Can't decide which I like best... kind of missing the hat but then I love the sunlight on dress in the final piece.

Anonymous said...

I prefer the first one. It is painted in the impressionism tradition. The hat gives more a feeling of rest, the feeling of the summer ...
That's just my opinion. Nevertheless, both are great works.

Deborah Elmquist said...

Both paintings are eye catching and very painterly. But I have to say I love the one with the hat better. Why? There is a circular design made by the flow of the dress and the hat repeats that pattern. To me, it also helps carry the eye around and back up to the face. Just my opinion. Love them both.

Seema Misra said...

"Girl In Pink Dress" is a dream ....

devin said...

love this piece Justin. one of my favorites.

Matilda said...

Keep the hat.