In a party mood

These portraits, Before the dance in the white dress,
and its twin, After the dance in the white dress,
are part of the Dance series I've been working on for
a few years. I started the theme out of respect for my
students, who emerge from time to time from the very casual
clothes they wear in class, to show an entirely different,
more timeless side of their personalities when they dress up.

I am attracted to the timeless quality of people in
fancy dress. Recently my son went to the prom
with his girlfriend, and there is no question in
my mind, that men need more occasions to dress
up. Tuxedos exude elegance, and the men who
wear them well appreciate that.

My niece, Chloé posed for these two paintings,
and did a great job conveying the mood of
anxiety before the dance, and of exhaustion
afterwards -- perhaps after a very late post-prom
party.

Have a timeless and elegant day.