The creative process is exceptionally important to me in every portrait, I want to know as much as I can about the subject and make sure we have a really good idea to get started. I communicate closely with you to make sure your ideas are clear to me, and to clarify anything that might have been confusing in translation.

 

I start each portrait with a clear, high resolution and expressive photograph. Sometimes people prefer to send me 10 or more photos so that I can choose which one would work best on the surface or piece together elements from several photographs to create something new. I choose the photos which are clear, in focus, and where the person or animal are showing something about themselves which is interesting and unique.

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I then make sure to draw a simple outline of the facial and anatomical shapes, features, and key curves and lines that define their form. After the outline is drawn I begin to fill the detail in with paint or pencil. It works in layers and stages from basic colours and shading to the fine details towards the end. 

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Afterwards I send a photograph of the work to the person who ordered it. I open up a dialogue with them for open feedback, where if something doesn't look quite right to them they can tell me in a pressure and judgement free environment. I am never offended by these points of feedback, I thrive off them so I really value it when somebody can bring up a point of improvement. It helps me learn and I am extremely grateful for it, I also believe it is essential in the process so that my customers can actually feel that they have got value for their money.