This portrait really began with the model’s wardrobe choice of an off-white yellow kaftan. At first, it looked rather colorless and uninteresting to me, but then I noticed the intricate embroidery of the neckline and banding down the front and my eye began to pick up how the yellows and blues morphed into each other through the highlights and shadows of the folds of the tunic. The torrent of slightly reddish waves and curls in Sara’s hair was also intriguing, so I set about contrasting the reddish hue of the hair against the blue of the background and the yellow of the kaftan in a triadic color scheme with all these elements having its own particular texture as well. I let the backdrop remain in a more painterly state while pushing toward a Van Eyck level of detail in the hair and on the embroidery. I feel that the open intensity of her gaze wins the moment, and all the other elements remain in their proper supporting roles despite all the minute detail.