The most common question I get when people see this painting is “Do you know her?” and my answer is almost always, “If I did do you think I would be standing here talking to you?” In truth, I was at a point of needing beauty in my life, so I began to work from a photograph I’d plucked from a fashion magazine, and it immediately reminded me of how difficult it is to attain beauty.  This painting took me roughly six times longer than an equivalent pastel of someone less “perfectly featured”.

As far as the name goes, the widow-like dress, olive skin and dark hair seem to evoke a latin, possibly Catholic culture. And considering the number of beautiful women I’ve met who fit that description, there could only be one name.