I work primarily in oil and acrylic, focusing on portraiture as a way to capture both likeness and identity. My goal is not only to capture a recognizable image of my subject, but also to suggest a narrative to express who they are in terms of presence, experience, or inner life.
Working from life is central to my practice. As a member of a weekly portrait group at my local art club, I regularly engage in direct observation to build my foundational sketches. I also work from personal photographs to allow a more extended exploration of the subjects and stories. In recent work I have been experimenting with monochromatic palettes and also integrating some abstracted elements to introduce energy, movement or emotional emphasis.
My approach to mark making is intentionally varied and I use a variety of tools depending on the narrative I’m creating, allowing abstraction to play a role alongside representation.
Although I have been painting for many years, the past two have marked a focused commitment to developing my skills as a portrait artist. This time has been one of exploration as I continue to develop my understanding of portraiture as a technical discipline and a means of visual storytelling.
