Portraits
Subject depicted in oil on paper
Portraiture is one of the most demanding of drawing and painting disciplines. To get a likeness is a very difficult thing indeed, as is a specific facial expression. Francis Bacon once said he could never get a likeness, so his work took on a more generic and investigative quality into the human condition. Of course, we have cameras today, and the drive to reproduce that type of image isn't the same, and the provenance of portraiture has become more expressive. Learning the specialism of portraiture doesn't mean you become a 'portrait artist' and take commissions, and so on - rather it may be more like a stepping stone to developing your own expressive style with the human form.
In 2023 I attended a wonderful City Lit course in Portraiture with Brian Sayers (https://www.briansayers.net/) to hone my skills in portraiture further. The pictures below came from this course.
Jude Law depicted in charcoal and wash
Subject depicted in Indigo Dark pencil - a favourite with our tutor
Subject depicted in charcoal
Smoking boy depicted in charcoal
Asian man depicted in coloured chalks
African woman depicted in charcoal and wash
Image of Veneet, produced as a first sketch in two hours, in April 2026. It is 30 by 40 cm charcoal on paper. While this image may not capture the exact likeness of the sitter, it does portray his intensity and passion for life. To progress this first attempt into a painting I would aim to spend another three, four or more sessions with the sitter adding further detailed sketches and then rework the painting many times. But i reallly enjoyed this one-offsession with this lively and fun-filled model.
"I would be honoured if he were to choose me as a subject!" Veneet