Escape From The Hungry World of Ghosts
This is a relatively quick portrait of a young man called George (completed over 4 short sessions) which I am really pleased with. George is thoughtful, quietly intense, and buzzing with ideas. He is a poet and I asked him…
Future Past
This recent oil portrait was completed in around 12 sittings – the shoulders and shirt being the biggest headache of the whole thing! How far to develop them, how to give the pose some more psychology using form alone and…
And finally, one more charcoal portrait
I’m aiming to get back to some painting now, so this might be the last charcoal drawing for a while. The model for this one is Clare, who happens to be Caleb’s mother. I had slightly less time for this…
Portrait Sketches
Having spent a few days working on quick portrait sketches, these are the only two that I like and feel capture the model – a very delightful young girl called Julia.
The Scholar
Here’s a portrait drawing from last week which I am really pleased with. My alternative title for it is ‘The Scholar’, because Caleb is a very bright and engaging young student. My hope is that it is this idea of…
Charcoal Portrait
My first portrait drawing for a few months. I’m mostly satisfied with it, and the likeness and psychology are good. I really struggled with the articulation of the head and neck though – getting the sense of weight and roundness….
Conversations with the Past
This is a very personal little portrait for me. It is based on a black and white photograph from the 1930s that I have of my Grandmother. We were very close, indeed my grandparents lived with us for most of…
Who’s That?
This is a small (8″ x 6″) self portrait sketch that I completed pretty quickly at the end of the day as a way to use up some left over paint. Everything is ‘in the ball-park’ in terms of placement,…
Almost, but not quite
Here’s a new portrait sketch that I’m starting to appreciate a little more now I have finished working on it. It’s close in likeness to the model, but it’s not quite her. The tiniest of changes here or there and…
My Ashmolean Museum of Art treasures
Whenever I visit Oxford I try to call into The Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology. Whatever else is exhibiting, I always try to see the following two paintings before I leave. Due to the locations of each of these…
