Painting Practice

I used to paint a long time ago, and this was my first serious return and my first real attempt at figurative drawing and painting. Each piece, made with acrylic paint and gold leaf, was design and created with a particular friend in mind, which gave me a concrete constraint to work within. Knowing who it was for made it possible to make something specific, (based off our relationship and history), rather than staring at a blank canvas wondering where to start.

This ongoing project is as much about learning the act of painting itself as about the final images: exploring form, proportion, color, and gesture, and gradually getting comfortable letting figures emerge on the page. I don’t tend to keep what I make, so giving the paintings to friends made them meaningful, lived-in objects, and knowing that they're being made to be shared is a core part of the practice.