Portrait of Carré 2016

Aaron Nagel painted this portrait of Carré, and right away, you notice that play of muted grays against the rosy pink of her hair, like a symphony in soft tones. For me, it's all about the process, the layering of color and the way each brushstroke builds the form. Looking closely, you can see how Nagel uses the paint. It's not too thick, not too thin, but just right to capture the delicate texture of skin and hair. Those little freckles, each one carefully placed, give her face a sense of realness. And the way he's handled the light, it's like she's glowing from within. My eye keeps going back to the loose strands of hair, how they catch the light, almost like he is playing with Rothko and making the work breathe. It reminds me of Lucian Freud, that raw, honest way of depicting the human form. But Nagel brings his own sensitivity, his own way of seeing, and that's what makes it so special. It’s not just a portrait; it’s a conversation, an exploration, a whole world of feeling.