A healthy bunch of portrait commissions are steadily streaming in - and I love it. To improve my practice I am printing my reference photos nice and large. I went through a lazy stage of using my iPad or my phone for reference. This was awkward to hold, increased my screen time and was time-sensitive due to battery life. Sitting a painting next to its reference photo is a great way to make space for noticing differences during breaks and non-painting time. 

I can see just from looking at this last photo from afar that the girl’s head needs to be shorter and wider.

R I D E -  W I T H  - Y O U R - G H O S T S 

  ✨Limited Run of 25✨ 

 Designed and screen-printed in the UK by myself and Dissprints Heavyweight and 100% combed cotton Cuffed sleeves, neck ribbing.

The design is a little nod towards embracing grief, pain and demons. They can be helpful no? Without loss, we don’t always appreciate gain, without death, we don’t always remember to take full advantage of life. So here we are another year on, with a bit more art to help me process familiar feelings and emotions. If you don’t already know, this year I learned how to surf (but you probably know, because I don’t shut up about it now 😂 🤙) This design is particularly special to me. My dad struggled to walk and do anything physical in the last years of his life. So each time I do anything extremely active I feel his joy, I picture his better days and I imagine him by my side. The way he used to run alongside me and my sister at running races. Life is short and your health isn’t forever. So milk it for all it’s worth.
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Acrylic on Canvas 59.5 cm x 84 cm

I adore painting portrait commissions, The fear of getting it right mixed with the joy of experimenting with colour - Is a bit of a rollercoaster. 

I completed this one yesterday - which is a super sweet birthday present for the customer’s partner. They make great gifts. Be sure to make sure you leave me plenty of time to get them done.