JPEG Jedi

I agree with Jonathan Mayer:
The symbolism here suggests International Gothic and the Golden Age of Dutch Painting, but this is a very modern piece, especially in the model's pose, and in the way the lighting divides the canvas in half and is over saturated on the wall and also in the way the model extends through every plane and region of this work.

Well done.

Pixel Pusher

Quite incredible. No wonder it is top-rated.

This could have been a Vermeer painting. The floor tiles, window lighting, soft muted colors, and expectant stillness are all very similar to the Dutch master's. I wish there were more digital artists like yourself. And I wish I was one of them!

Truly beautiful work here. I don't think you could of captured the moment any other way! I honestly thought I was looking at a photograph.

A true masterpiece. The richness of colors, composition, pose and general feeling create truly perfect work of art.

Bitmap Bumpkin

oh my its perfect hunni!
it makes my heart beat unsteadily.

Pixel Pusher

How is it possible?

Bitmap Bumpkin

In terms of technique, this is a wonderful image: The richness of the scene; the satin cloth, the attention to detail. The fabrics on the lady and the perfectly photo-real candlelights. The superb coloration of the womans legs and feet (the multitude of cross-shadows and reflected lights and on and on...) The sheer mastery of technique shown in this image goes to prove this: that software, technique and all raytracing in the world is always subordinate to the idea behind the work. Because, for a work to become truly art and not mere artwork, it has to do more!

And this IS art.

Here we have a work that is captivating! This portrait of a seated woman (ghost?) pensively gazing outside the frame sends the viewer into a state of mindfulness. Everything in the image is clear, sharp, detailed. Like a sense-memory. A memory of a feeling. Not an image. Visual memory deteriorates too soon, ruthlessly.

The artist puts the viewer in the room. The woman might not have noticed us yet. She's perhaps just a spirit that is lingering in the room, attached to something - or someone who once shared this house with her. But if the woman is indeed a ghost, the artist craftily resists any temptation to use a cheap effects to achieve this fact. Instead, he does the opposite; he grounds the lady in "terraferma" - using the bare feet to give her a casual feel. This reminds me of the ghost story where someone meets a relative and has a conversation with them only to realize after the fact that this person has been dead for years!

The image brings to mind the eerie large-format photographs of Gregory Crewdson. But instead of using the lighting effects of Crewdson, OLI uses rather mundane lighting. Crewdson captures some eeire feeling one might have after a nightmare. OLI captures the same strange feeling - in a waking state.
This is much more haunting.

JPEG Jedi

Slick man. You are aces.

Bitmap Bumpkin

very good! but why is there no reflection of her in the mirror? wierd...on purpose?