With Knife by Amanda Bates

It's a lovely portrait Amanda.

Very strong approach here Amanda but again a very good likeness.

Excellent. The eyes have it - are you about to cut my throat with that sharp little blade? Or re-point my wall, but in an unexpectedly intricate way? An enigmatic gaze - love it!

Well, Bill, it's not sharp and actually it's my biggest knife (for painting ... the bread knife is a *bit* bigger). And isn't obvious that I'm about to paint your portrait?!

Ah well, perhaps I should have said something very positive but anodyne.<br />I do like this a lot. But this is because, scanning almost idly through the gallery, this image caught my attention, and although I don&#39;t comment on much (I feel I lack expertise), I felt moved to comment.<br />No, I had no feeling whatsoever that I was looking at someone that wanted to paint me. What I see is an interesting but enigmatic person. For me, the gaze is quite steely, possibly disapproving (and of course, when I look into the eyes, then the subject of this gaze has to be me). In this context I definitely reckon that one interpretation of your weilding of the palette knife is as an aggressive gesture.<br />As I said, enigmatic - so I thought I might lighten this take with what I hoped was a rather jocular interpretation. To the uninitiated what you are holding must look like a tiny pointing trowel. In no way would I wish to compare your wonderful knife painting with pointing a wall - however intricately!!<br />As I said, I love it. But perhaps it says things to me that it doesn&#39;t to you?

No offence was taken, Bill. I did not mean to sound defensive. Thank you for you refreshingly non-anodyne comments.

This is a great piece of work - nicely textured with the knife work and I like the lightness the white adds.