I consider my portrait paintings as ‘Psychological Portraits’. They are an exploration of the intangible in the human condition through ‘moods’, ‘emotions’, ‘relationships’ and ‘states of being’. For example the nuances and undercurrents of a well-known couple’s life together or the trials and tribulations of a personality or simply different types of emotions and moods are explored in the work.
My initial source materials are written documents, biographies and photos about their life story. Usually I start with a sketch of the protagonists but will not refer to it once I start painting as memory plays a vital part in the work.
The blank canvas starts with layers of paint made up of colours that reflect and evoke the emotions and feelings that I want to portray. These layers are scratched through using a variety mark making tools such as spatulas, combs and other implements. Imaginary and intuitive forms evolve and reveal themselves slowly as the process continues.
The psychological relationship or condition being explored in the painting manifests itself through the relational sensations of colour and the physical qualities of an assortment of marks.
‘A Portrait Installation’ is a series of works that deconstructs the historical genre of portraiture by depicting only segments of a famous subject on each canvas.
I look at both physical attributes and well-known elements of the subject’s life. For example, the special way they wear their hair, their clothes and jewelry and idiosyncratic traits that signifies and distinguishes them.
The deconstruction enables me to move away from conventional portraiture and to introduce biographical elements into the work. It is made up of 4 small canvases that are to be viewed together as part of a larger whole. This enables the viewer to see both the identity of the subject and to recall some of the subject’s accomplishments.