Here's to the future. . .

 

Lucile, Summer of 2013 . 14" x 11" . linen covered wood panel

Isn't it par for the course, this August malaise, this end of summer, what have I done/accomplished (?), how can it be nearing the end of summer (?) will the rain ever stop?  Well, the rain did end a couple of days ago introducing summer-lagged Winston to cooler temperatures and less humidity.  It certainly does put an extra spring into the morning walk along with a somewhat surreal feeling of lightness of form - walking suddenly becomes gliding.  

 

The new portrait above is the lovely, very-French-teenager, Lucile, who I had the good fortune to meet at a dinner party next door.  Lucile spends her days in the French countryside on a dairy farm and has great artistic ability to boot.  Her host family and former neighbors brought her over for a whirlwind visit, and I was immensely impressed with her ease amongst us adults, her patience, her laugh and her eagerness, which I suppose, in truth, all young people have in spades. 

I asked if she would pose for some pictures after dinner and she was very sweet to go along with it. . .after removing her glasses I asked her to look up and she gave me the most beautiful pose.  It was perfect.  Her luminosity and clear-eyed gaze revealed the unique potential of a young, blossoming girl at the very pinnacle of keenly looking forward to the future. 

 

Thank you Lucile for the pleasure of capturing your fresh look, and may your future be very bright. . .