About the Artist
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‘Portraits have to make an impact at a glance but also repay closer examination, so that even at the hundredth look they’re inexhaustible.’
Blake Morrison
Painting portraits has become a great interest of mine. Oil on Wood is my preferred medium to work in. Glazing techniques are a great way to paint the skin and I find the rigid wood surface lends itself to this method. It's always thrilling to experience the moment a portrait takes on a life of its own. At one point there is an amalgamation of colored shapes on the surface, with the addition of further observation and the physical process of making a mark with a brush it is transformed into a lifelike entity. For me each element like composition, colour, expression, and the essence of light in my painting must be in perfect harmony for the overall composition to be successful. I use my reference photos as a starting point. I generally use many photos in order to achieve a final composition that best conveys the personality of the sitter. Some details are lost in one photo and found in another. The perfect expression can be lost or found, that quirky curl at the corner of the mouth or the way the eyes are resting can really make or break the final piece. As many great artists have already said - a great portrait goes far beyond merely capturing a faithful likeness. Conveying the essence of my sitter is paramount and I hope to achieve this in every portrait I paint.
I was born in Belfast in 1977. I enrolled in the Foundation Studies Certificate in Art and Design at the University of Ulster, which I completed in June 1999 before proceeding to the BA [Hons] in Fine and Applied Art, where I specialized in painting. Since completing my degree in 2002 I have been working as a full-time professional artist. My interest is in realism, with Oil on Wood as my preferred medium.. If asked to name the greatest influences on my own work to date, my list would include painters and portrait photographers: Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth, Charles Sheeler, Michelangelo Merisi, Chuck Close, Simon Faibisovich, Walker Evans and Ernst Haas.
