Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Portrait Of Dale


Portrait Of Dale
Oil on gessoed board
100x100mm
I really enjoy painting portraits but it is always difficult getting someone who is prepared to sit. This is one very practicle reason why I paint so many self portraits. My very supportive partner Dale Copeland kindly took some time out from her hectic schedule to sit for this one. I was happy with it as a painting, however it is not very flattering. Perhaps that is why so few people are willing to sit for me...? I just can't do "pretty", no matter how I try.

Monday, March 30, 2009

Self Portrait Slightly Contre Jour


Self Portrait Slightly Contre Jour
Oil on gessoed board
100x100mm

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Self Portrait Baring Teeth


Self Portrait Baring Teeth
Oil on gessoed board
150x147mm

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Two Self Portraits Glimpsed in a Dusty Mirror

Glimpsed Self Portrait With Open Mouth
Oil on linen on MDF
90x73mm



Self Portrait on Berger Linen
Oil on Linen on MDF
75x60mm

Whenever I am disatisfied with my painting I invariably find myself turning to self portraiture. These small sketches were painted quickly without any attempt at artifice, vanity or even self expression. I'm more interested in the paint than anything else. I deliberately distanced myself from the mirror which is also very dirty and gives me only a dim view of my reflection, about the size of a postage stamp.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Small Self Portrait


Small Self Portrait
Oil on gessoed board
66x57mm

Small Dark Bottle


Small Dark Bottle
Oil on gessoed board
100x80mm

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Walnut on Brown Bottle


Walnut on Brown Bottle
Oil on gessoed board
110x100mm

I've painted this motif of an object perched on top of a glass bottle several times within this project; in fact the very first one was of an orange atop a blue glass bottle. I've got a growing collection of old bottles lining my window ledges and shelves and I often play around perching things on them. This walnut has been sat on this brown bottle long enough for me to get around to painting it. The painting has a shallow pictorial space and a closely cropped composition, giving it a slightly claustrophobic feeling. Tightly stoppered and bottled up. This one's for all those other nuts out there.

Monday, March 09, 2009

Little Pill


Little Pill
Oil on gessoed board
40x67mm
$80
This is a little painting of a little pill, and yet in fact I have painted it larger than life size. One of those little jokes that keeps me amused.

White Butterfly


White Butterfly
Oil on linen mounted on MDF
50x70x12mm
$100
sold