3 May 2007

Portrait of Greg

Having a look at several artists’ blogs lately, I got the feeling that I might be maintaining modesty to my own cost. So I think why the hell not put my own pictures up here?

Greg recently asked me to participate in an elaborate portrait project he is planning. I would love to outline the idea, but it belongs to him, not to me.

Suffice to say that he has an interest in images of men that possess a profound sense of unease, of uncertainty or unresolved emotion. I think this picture works in that light, even though it wasn’t what I was explicitly setting out to do.

I thought this might be a one-off, but I was so happy with the result that I’m planning a whole series of these. They are quite large, about a metre across. The next one will be almost twice the size.

I think the in-between-ness is to some extend captured in the axis of light and shade that runs down the face from forehead to chin. It’s almost a hinge between one choice and another. I also like the eye on the right. It seems to open up in a way as to suggest vulnerability or receptiveness.

I’m getting excited thinking about a whole room of these.


The photo is fairly poor, but I think the sense of the drawing is still there.

7 comments:

Paul Martin said...

Sean, is that your work? It looks great.

Michael Leddy said...

A really striking drawing, Sean. Covering the eyes, then the mouth, then one eye at a time let me see how much complication you've captured in this face. I like the contrast between the detailed face and the "suggested" shirt.

Crritic! said...

You blokes are quick! Thanks for the warm response.

Yes Paul, it's one of mine. Cheers, Michael. As soon as I have some more of these, I'll put them up.

Paul Martin said...

What do you sell something like that for?

Crritic! said...

Difficult to say as I've never sold one of these before. This one was done for someone who commissioned it to be part of an exhibition.

I would want to sell them archivally framed (worth $150), so they would be in the order of $450. If I had a gallery show, where sales commission is charged, they would be more expensive to cover it.

Commissions welcome!

I am the Queen of EVERYTHNG...OK!! said...

That is excellent, love the shading method

Paul Martin said...

If you have a mailing list, put me on it. I'd be interested in any showing you have.