Portrait of Donna 2017

Aaron Nagel painted this portrait of Donna, sometime around 2017, with oil on canvas, maybe in his studio. Look at those blended edges, how he’s softened the transition between light and shadow across Donna’s face. You know, it’s not easy to work like that; it takes time, patience, and a real connection with your subject. I can imagine Nagel, carefully building up the layers, trying to capture not just Donna’s likeness, but some inner quality, too. See how the colour’s so subtle? There’s a grey backdrop, but he uses pinks and blues in her face to bring warmth and life. Then, at the bottom, the painting seems to dissolve—like she’s emerging from the darkness. It reminds me of some of those classical portraits, like a contemporary take on an Old Master. We artists, we’re always learning from each other, even across centuries! Ultimately, painting is about trying to make something out of nothing, to find meaning in the mess of life.