Sheri - portrait of the artist's daughter

I thought it would be a good point to post this painting, which I've just finished working on this evening. It's been an interesting session, with encouragement from fellow London Road Groupers Lynn and Catherine to go bold and step out of my comfort zone.

I was trying to bring some of the strengths of my life paintings to an accurate portrait - to add interesting colours and patterns which are not necessarily in the original scene, so to make the painting more than just a copy of life, to take it beyond into a more constructed painting.

This has resulted in some very bold areas which speak to each other from one side to the other, with flowing lines and diagonals which take the eye around the painting. I wanted a very detailed figure to play with flatter areas of colour and pattern, not trying to make everything three dimensional and 'real'.

My daughter is very happy that I put the hearts on her socks!

Sheri - Latest portrait commission

It's taken me some time, but I've finally finished my latest portrait commission of the adorable Marley. It's oil on canvas, approx 1'x 2' in size.

I learnt a lot painting this, challenged by a busy, distracting background on the reference photo, challenged to make flatter areas interesting through paint and, as ever, challenged to bring together an accurate likeness through expressive marks. I'm happy with the result and so pleased that the boy's grandmother, who commissioned me, was blown away by it, followed up with his parents who received it as a present.