Perseverance

I started this painting about three and a half years ago, and have only just finished it. Every so often I would do a little more, only to become frustrated by the limits of my own capability. You have to let yourself be bad in order to improve and sometimes this is the hardest thing, to persevere. It's still not the painting I would like it to be but there are aspects of it that I'm happy with, and I'm glad I finally finished it as it has taught me a lot, especially about colour, composition and softening edges.

'Emma Pregnant' Oil paint on canvas, 510 x 760 mm

Harlequin

I recently finished this piece. It has a vintage circus theme and was partly inspired by the harlequins depicted in Picasso's 'Rose Period'. I love the romance and exquisite contrasting colours of these paintings.

I largely work from photographs using someone I know as a model. I really enjoy getting lost in the process of making the photographs, and feel it is very much a playful, collaboration with the model. The hat was an impromptu creation, made by stapling miniature playing cards to some rolled up card.