I’ve been thinking a lot lately about why I am drawn to paint portraits the way I do. As a relatively new artist it’s sometimes difficult to see the thread of your work until you look backwards. I’ve spoken before about my habit of writing poetry across the underpaintings of my work, often they are completely lost in the final work, sometimes the odd word or phrase can be seen closeup. This sets my intention for the work – always one of curiosity and positivity, and l love that there’s a whole story buried in the work.

I want my images to be arresting, to feel slightly uncomfortable, a little like looking into the sun. I always choose to push the contrast of light and shadow to the limits, appreciating that often the features of one side of the face are partially lost in the dark. I also make the eyes a focal point, they really are windows to the soul and I can feel the life they bring to my work once I’m satisfied with my painting of them. Her gaze is always directly towards the viewer and there is no pretense about her, although she often has a vulnerability.

So why do I paint in such a dramatic and intense style?

My portraits are a response to the bombardment of faces we see in advertising daily, the smilingly vacant or slightly surprised young women, softly lit and sent to convince us life will be better with the latest…… iPhone, skincare, brand of jeans, trainers, sports gear, insert any product here….. In my eyes this is the modern-day portrait, these are the images of faces we consume constantly, in magazines, on the backs of buses, on every type of media we encounter. We are so used to seeing these faces we don’t even realise we see them anymore. They have become background noise to our lives. As a painter of portraits, I notice these homogenous faces everywhere and it makes me hungry for some drama, some connection and meaning other than pushing a product.

Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with advertising and no problem with the images being used, they just make me long for something more.

Why don’t you count faces today.

You might be surprised at how many portraits you’ve viewed without going near an art gallery or museum!