What makes portraiture so fascinating?
For me it’s because each face is different, each painting has a story. Portraits make us curious; they hold our attention, who are they, what do they do, what lies beneath, a gesture, a pose, the artist gives us clues. To capture the essence of a person in paint is a challenge, but as it grows & ideas take shape the character of the person emerges and its magical, creating an emotion that touches both the artist & the viewer.
…is an original acrylic painting on copper. It began as an experiment to see if I could achieve the detail necessary for a portrait on the copper surface. I love the variety of textures it gives me and the way the copper shines through in the hair.
La Vie en Rose
£450
…was inspired from a set of photos taken by The Portfolio People. This dress looked nothing on the hanger but came alive as part of the shoot. It was one of those moments when I just knew I had to paint it.
Original…acrylic on boxed canvas 100x100cm.
Beauty Within
…the revelation with this portrait was just how little of the face was needed to capture the person. A painting that also includes elements of her life from the small portrait of her daughter in the lens to the subtle inclusion of some of her own photography within the background.
Time to Focus
…another example where just this side profile captures the sitter perfectly, both his likeness and personality. An avid music fan, lyrics from his favourite song have been included in the composition.
Original…acrylic on copper 54x78cm.
When Music Speaks
…in this portrait of the goal-keeping legend, Gordon Banks I wanted to capture the man rather than the footballer. Although his hands still played a key role in the composition, I wanted to concentrate more on him in his later years and his work for Alzheimer’s.
The original…acrylic on board is now with his family.
Gordon - the Man
If you would like to chat about commissioning a portrait of your own, please get in touch and I would be happy to talk you through the process.