Some of the best moments happen between the big ones: the pause outside, the last few minutes of quiet before the night picks back up.
In this close-cropped portrait, light falls across one side of the face while the rest sinks into soft shadow. A thin trail of smoke curls from a cigarette held at the lips, and the hair, a tangle of loose curls, is rendered with confident, sweeping strokes that blur the line between figure and background.
The palette is restrained and warm, all sepia, umber, and cream, with just a touch of rose on the lips. At the bottom, the painting dissolves into drips and untouched canvas, a deliberate reminder that this is paint, handmade and gestural.
Details
Original oil painting on linen panel
6"x8"
Signed and dated (Colligan ‘26)
Framed
Ships secured, insured, with a certificate of authenticity
Please note: colors may vary slightly between screens.
