Portrait
My portrait work has taken me from the immediacy of impressionism to the precise techniques of the old masters. A generous friend of mine, who is a wonderful artist, once shared his knowledge of some of the recipes and methods of the great painters of the 16th and 17th century and it opened up a whole world of discovery which I feel has only just begun. These works employ monotonal underpainting; modelling in sepias with lead white and then glazing many layers of colour in linseed oil mixed with chalk dust. The first time I tried this was a revellation, a eureka moment -so THATS how they did it! The journey of discovery never ends and I am thankful to be travelling in the company of some wonderful people. Vibrant, quirky individuals who sometimes graciously allow me to paint them.