Karin & Shaun's grandson by Jacqueline Henderson

There was a Chinese tradition of painting the emperors with no shadows on their faces - on the grounds that shadow did not fall on the face of the Son of Heaven; I always thought that must be extremely difficult to do, because one relies on shadow to show features - and your painting reminds me of some of those imperial portraits, because there's not a hint of shadow here: this is all drawing with colour to represent the child you see. It wouldn't always work - but it does in this portrait; somehow, you've managed to get the proportions right without relying on shadow and (much) tone to help you: and I completely believe in him.

What a beautiful story , and a beautiful thing to say about my work , i am truly touched , thank you so much

Agree with Robert, like how you have shown his hair and the detail on his waistcoat and tie and the colours on those seem to catch the creamier tone you have included as an underlying skin tone for his face, it does indeed work and is almost a stylised image, it seems to work partly because he is a young boy who would not have lines or indeed much in the way of shadows on his face

Thank you Ros