Submission

My recent and past work is of small moments of ordinary people. I research each sitter and find our connection point. Connection to me is vital, connection can turn into collaboration. For people not used to the idea of creating, collaboration is a surprising suggestion but everyone can do it in varying degrees. We are not making a portrait about innermost secrets and dreams. There are no revelations about the person. I am there for feel good purposes. I always want them to look at me, I am their unknown viewer of the future and I want to see their eyes and face. When humans meet in the flesh we glance at each other's faces, we don't scrutinise each other. My portraits, of everyday people, have to represent the person in their best light - so that they are happy for someone to study them intently. Though the results can appear quite formal they are actually captures of tiny moments in the end. I tell my subjects I do 'faux naturelle'! In the studio I favour flat lighting and flat colour backgrounds (I paint my own). A hangover from long ago screen printmaking days; strong lines attract me. My future work will likely be heading out of the studio, at least while I find my new footing. Now that I don't have people coming into my studio wanting portraits (i.e. free sitters and a ready made audience) I will be devising projects and having to enlist friends. The image 'Swim' represents a new type of direction perhaps.