A Portrait of Daniela

The magic of portraiture is not just simply capturing likeness but also the spirit and other human qualities of the sitter. When you first look at Daniela in this painting, I hope to have conveyed how alive she feels…almost as if she's about to speak.

I've chosen warm, natural skin tones, which make Daniela feel approachable and human. If you look at her eyes…they're calm, but also alert, giving the sense that she's quietly observing us. Her faint smile adds to this feeling, suggesting confidence mixed with friendliness.

Her striped yellow and brown top brings energy to the portrait. The strong pattern contrasts with the softer background and her relaxed expression, almost like a reminder that people are never just one thing… they can be bold and calm at the same time.

The necklace, while being a compositional anchor (just like the pearl in Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'), is a tiny detail that helps us imagine who Daniela might be beyond the canvas. Is it a favourite piece of jewellery?... a gift?... a symbol of identity? Portraits often leave us with these little mysteries, making us curious about the person in the painting.

I hope that this painting shows how portraiture isn't only about looking…it's also about seeing; it asks us to pause, notice details, and wonder about the story behind the face. That's what makes portraiture so powerful: it connects us to other people, across time, paint, and canvas.

My work has been exhibited down the years in the RHA and here too, in the RUA. In 2020 my portrait of Will Young won Sky Portrait Artist of the Week.

Oliver Murphy