Artist Spotlight: Young John Larriva

Young John Larriva is an artist defined by expression and impression. His quick brushstrokes evoke feeling, emotion, character and essence.

His use of bold strokes of cool tones gives the skin a rich, larger than life quality.

Here, his use of cooler yellows and warmer coral tones shows how blood flow creates blush under the skin in areas with higher numbers of blood vessels (nose and cheeks) and fewer in areas with less (forehead).

Larriva has made the distinctive choice here to include the flashback from the camera where it interacts with the subject's retina, creating an eerie red glow. Red light also glows from inside the boy's nostril and is reflected on his hair and clothes, tying the image together.

I love the use of mint green and bluish highlights contrasted with dark skin in this painting. Larriva gives all his subjects a buttery, almost velvety quality to their skin.