Artist Spotlite – Annette Speck

Artist: Annette Speck

Title: “My Angel” (My Daughter Stepheny)

Dimensions: 16×20

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas

Website: http://myspace.com/happee2bme

Comments By The Artist: This is my very first portrait painting I attempted (daughter, Stepheny). I began painting with acrylics earlier this year, and I LOVE IT! I used to draw as a child and recently felt there was something more creative inside of me. My daughter has been a blessing and an angel to me and I feel that love has shown through in this painting. I have now done some florals, seascapes, and others will be coming. I hope to make this not just a hobby but a living in doing what I love, and by selling paintings, I hope that others can also be touched by that love that I put into the creations.

Tags: Acrylic painting, artist, artist spotlight, Artist Spotlite, original, original acrylic paintings, original paintings

Comments

24 Comments on "Artist Spotlite – Annette Speck"

Adele Gregory on Mon, 18th Aug 2008 4:57 pm

She’s smiling but also makes me smile back! You’ve captured her expression wonderfully.

Terry on Mon, 18th Aug 2008 5:29 pm

I do feel the love come through in your painting! I really like it! The one thing that I would do differently (and this is just me–I am no expert!) is darken the lips a little. I like the painting very much.

Nicole Castro on Mon, 18th Aug 2008 5:37 pm

Annette, what a great first portrait. Definitely keep doing more of them! Thank you for sharing with us.

karen on Mon, 18th Aug 2008 5:50 pm

for a first attempt at portraitur, a good start, keep on attempting, I would think would be satisfying to your artistic . really very pleasing. A+

Ingrid on Mon, 18th Aug 2008 5:57 pm

Hi Annette,

The emotion that you feel for your daughter, Stepheny, is obvious by this painting, your “first portrait”! GREAT JOB! I especially like how you connected the grasses to the painting by adding the blue from the blue jacket Stepheny is wearing.

I might add one thing with the color used in Stepheny’s face. With children, even though they may seem light and pale, “tell a lie” when you paint them, by adding a little more warm color to their face, hands, and lips. The warm color adds “youthfulness” to their complexion. The cooler color can sometimes make children look much older. Some of that warm color that you used in the background could have been added to her cheeks, lips and hands. This also would have connected the background to Stepheny’s face.

Your drawing skills are very good and this is very important for painting portraits. I think that you should be delighted and quite proud of the excellent job you did on your first portrait!

Keep painting and thank you for sharing with all of us!

Ingrid

Kay on Mon, 18th Aug 2008 6:09 pm

Great first try. I love it.

Gill on Mon, 18th Aug 2008 6:35 pm

I love the vibrant blue and that it is also reflected on the leaves

Nick on Mon, 18th Aug 2008 7:09 pm

Such feeling is what I notice in this… you really hit the nail on the head in capturing that million dollar smile your daughter has. You are gifted. Yes…a A+….

Joseph P. Sobel on Mon, 18th Aug 2008 7:52 pm

For a very first painting this is excellent. The contrast between her left cheek and the shadow in her hoodie, the essence of her hair and even the asymmetrical symmetry of the plant besiding your daughter. A couple things I noticed were the shadows where she is smiling. Too dark, maybe? I don’t know but the shade where her fingertips are needs to be intensified. Very nice.

Jayne Cummins on Mon, 18th Aug 2008 8:17 pm

Great first – you have really captured love in her eyes so beautifully and her features, her hair is especially lovely. My only criticism is that the lips look unnatural – was she wearing lipstick?
Well done – keep at it.
Jayne

Annette on Mon, 18th Aug 2008 9:40 pm

First and foremost… THANK YOU, THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU AGAIN for all the WOW! WOW! comments and words you all have said about this painting…. it has brought tears to my eyes and joy to my soul… And they definitely inspire me to continue to do what I love…and that is painting and sharing with all. I would like to note that the original painting actually is a bit warmer than what is shown on this site. I’m not sure if you go to my website or email me for another copy, you will see the warmth where the background color also is in her cheeks and the facial colors are warmer. But…most importantly, is the warmth that all of you and all of your comments and inspirations have brought to my soul–I hope all of you continue in your art and doing what you love! Much love and blessings to all of you! ~ Annette ~

Joy McKenzie on Mon, 18th Aug 2008 10:30 pm

A very lovely painting….I love your daughters blue coat….if this is your first portrait you have done a brilliant job….thanks for sharing
Joy in Australia

Christy McGuire on Mon, 18th Aug 2008 10:40 pm

Hello… You did a wonderful job. I can only imagine what your next one will look like. Well done!

Aunt Vi on Mon, 18th Aug 2008 11:02 pm

You did a beautiful job Nettie. Love you. Aunt Vi

james on Tue, 19th Aug 2008 12:29 am

Very nice first attempt. I am a novice, so I hardly qualify as a critic. While I agree with prior comments on skin tones and lip color, I also know that digital pictures often times don’t reflect the true color and beauty in a painting. I am working on that problem on my website. Also, and I don’t know if you were working from a photo, but that can render a false perception of color and shading. Photos are OK to help us remember, but a live model is needed to see subtle halftones and the beautiful depth of color in human skin. In spite of all that I loved your portrait.

Annette on Tue, 19th Aug 2008 12:42 am

Wasn’t sure if this that first comment came through–this should have been canceled. If not… First and foremost… THANK YOU ALL for the awesome, heartfelt comments. Wow! Wow! and Wow! It is so awesome that we have a site such as this to get feedback on our works and different eyes and perceptions that we can use. So, I thank you so much. I did notice that the painting looks brighter than the original–it is much warmer on the original, and I’m not sure if at my Web site it shows that warmth. Her lips in the photo I used as reference somewhat blended into her skin color, so I tried to capture that in the painting. But…yes, she does try to sneak in wearing lipstick at times–even though she’s only 11! And most of all, by the comments I’ve received, I feel I have captured and sent out in this piece what I wanted to…and that is LOVE. Cuz I love doing it and hoped that feeling came through to you! Thank you all again and I wish everyone the best in their artistic endeavors. ~ hugs ~ Annette

Valerie Sasaki on Tue, 19th Aug 2008 3:16 am

It is a lovely painting and a lovely subject. You did a beautiful job.

Soroya on Tue, 19th Aug 2008 10:23 am

This is a wonderful portrait I can feel the love you put into it. But I also feel like I can feel the love coming from your daughters face in the paining.

Pat on Tue, 19th Aug 2008 5:16 pm

Excellent work. I think you will go far with your talent. Good luck.

Juma on Wed, 20th Aug 2008 4:52 am

Annette, Thus really a great portrait. I like the wonderful contrast btwn the blue sweater and the skin tone make the figure stand out.
Keep up the great job Annette !

Amanda on Wed, 20th Aug 2008 10:36 am

I remember doing my first self portrait from an exercise in Betty Edwards book ` Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain`…………lets just say it wouldn`t be for public consumption For me this is a lovely example and I feel I would know your daugter from this painting. Really well done!!!

keith (artbuddy) on Wed, 20th Aug 2008 6:42 pm

Annette my friend, well you already know how i feel about your artwork and i’m glad to see others are seeing it now, you have a great future doing what you love and one day you’ll be doing it for a living huh!!
Well since i love other artists work i ‘m going to have to commission you to do one for me now !!

lots of love and admiration…….KB.

John on Wed, 20th Aug 2008 11:04 pm