My Creative Process
STAGE 1 - CAPTURING YOUR INDIVIDUALITY
At the start of the creative process, I meet with you to get a real-life view of your features and even more importantly, an insight into who you really are.
An excellent portrait is more than just an accurate representation of your looks - it should also convey everything that makes you a unique and special individual.
Phone calls are also possible if necessary, although they are less personal.
How I ensure to capture individuality
In order to capture who you are, I therefore focus on understanding your life and personality – what you love, your character, what you do, your culture and important life events. In this way I make sure your artwork really is you, not just a copy of a photo.
If someone else is the subject of the commission, I would ideally proceed in the same way - meeting them and getting to know them, even if the portrait is a gift.
How I convey your character
Once I have gained an insight into your story, I take care to capture a representative pose and to reflect your personality in the mood of the portrait. This can be communicated in a number of different ways, most notably through colour and style.
For instance, when painting ‘Mr Ellverton and the Black Dog’ (featured here), I focused on drawing out the subject’s rich personality in multiple ways.
He has two very different sides to his character due to manic depression. He is both a lively conversationalist at any drinks party, yet also struggles with depression and has authored a book on the subject, entitled ‘Taming the Black Dog’.
I was fascinated by this, especially when I realised that his face reflected his mixed character, with one eye and side of his face mischievous and playful, yet the other more intense and brooding.
In order to ensure this dichotomy received the viewer’s full attention, I concentrated most detail and contrast on features which accentuated it, predominantly his eyes and mouth. I also used bright, warm colours such as ochres and pinks to draw out his lively side, whereas I used more purples, blues and greys for his melancholic side.
STAGE 2 - CREATING A CONCEPT
After I have got to know you more, we come up with ideas for your portrait together.
This is important to make sure that your portrait is particularly personal.
Many portraits only capture your looks and convey some personality.
Although this provides a solid foundation, it is not as special as a painting with deeper meaning behind it.
Understanding why you want the portrait
When deciding the concept, I begin by finding out why you want the portrait, since this is key to our decision.
For example, if you wish to commemorate a loved one, I will focus on illustrating their life and loves subtly within the piece. By contrast, if you would prefer a portrait that stands out, we may decide to create an unusual composition or to convey a fictional story.
Whether the purpose is to mark a special occasion, to reflect your life, to stand out, for a gift or for decoration, I ensure that your portrait fits your needs.
I also consider any other elements which affect the type of portrait we decide upon. For example, if you know the location where the portrait will be hung, this can affect the style, size and colour. A large painting with low contrast may not be appropriate for a small room with low light.
Discussion of concept ideas
I then offer you a range of ideas, and listen to any of yours. We discuss which of these fit your needs, and how I can convey them within your portrait.
Here are a few illustrative examples of concepts and how they could be conveyed:
- Reflecting your life story: showing places you've grown up, depicting events that have shaped your life or having objects and scenes alluding to this in the background.
- Showing you performing activities you love or your life's work, either depicted directly or via symbolism within the image.
- Conveying a particular emotion or side to your character via colour and context. For example I could reflect a contemplative mood by using more muted, 'cooler' colours and by situating you within an isolated environment.
- Combinations of portrait painting, sculpture, photography or other media.
- Conveying movement with a blurred trail of motion.
STAGE 3 – TAKING THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHS
After we decide your piece’s concept, we meet again to take photographs for it.
I tend to complete the piece from photographs since my clients are often busy, although I am sometimes able to paint from life for more impressionistic pieces.
To make the portrait more true to life and make it easier for you to visualise the final piece, I set up the scene to be similar to the final composition.
However, I like poses to be natural, so tend not to force them, although I will guide you where helpful. Instead, I take many photographs, guaranteeing that we capture a few which would be right for your portrait.
After the photo shoot I review all the images and present you with a shortlist to choose from. We then decide the image and I'm ready to begin your portrait!
STAGE 4 – PAINTING YOUR PORTRAIT
To ensure that your piece is of the highest quality, I use only the finest oils and triple-primed canvases.
When I paint, my technique varies based upon the effect and style I'm trying to produce.
In general I paint in layers of colour rather than a single layer, building up from broad shapes and outlines to a refined composition.
This layered approach is similar to that of the Old Masters, although I add a more modern twist on top of this, using more colour and a more impressionistic style.
As I proceed, I continue refining over and over, wiping off and reconstructing elements until I am fully satisfied. It is this constant improvement of the work which leads to a powerful final piece.
My overall style now tends to be expressive and impressionistic, whilst still conveying key detail. I find that creating an impression of a defined shape with only a rough brush stroke or accentuating emotion with unusual colours makes a portrait far more interesting than just a copy of a photograph.
Please visit the Information page for further information regarding the practical aspects of commissioning a piece - e.g. price, payment, delivery, refunds & alterations.
Photography by Muphovi Ltd. & Sara Bahadori