African Carnival II

(Above) African Carnival II
Mixed media on 100% cotton rag, acid free paper
August 2010
14cm x 16cm

African Carnival

(Above) African Carnival
13cm x 16cm
Mixed water-based media on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper
August 2010

The Merriam-Webster's includes in its definitions for "carnival" : an instance of masquerading.

Recent Sales

 

 

All of the paintings above have now been sold.

The Beautiful Painted African Woman

(Above) The Beautiful Painted African Woman
13cm x 16cm
mixed water based media on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper
August 2010

A Google Image Search with the search terms "Omo People" brings up some wonderful pictures of the Omo People (Ethiopia). Many of the photographs are the work of the German photographer Hans Sylvester. They are inspirational.

The Painted African

(Above) The Painted African
13cm x 16cm
August 2010
Mixed media on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper.

The Black American Model (Naked)

(Above) The Black American Model (Naked)
August 2010

This painting started as a study of a thumbnail photograph of a black American fashion model.

The Russian Model with Long Black Hair

(Above) The Russian Model with Long Black Hair
14cm x 16cm
Mixed water-based media on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper
August 2010

A Girl Called Wakeema

(Above) A Girl Called Wakeema
13.5cm x 16cm
August 2010
Like many of my paintings, this work started as a study of an image that I saw by chance whilst surfing the Intenet: a thumbnail photograph of the American model Wakeema Hollis.

The Red Swimming Hat

(Above) The Red Swimming Hat
Mixed water-based media on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper.
14cm x 16cm
August 2010

The Girl from St Tropez

(Above) The Girl from St Tropez
Mixed water-based media on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper.
August 2010
13.5cm x 16cm

The Girl from Brazil

(Above) The Girl from Brazil
13.5cm x 16cm
Augutst 2010
Mixed water-based media on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper

This painting started, as many of my paintings do, as a study after a photograph, in this case an anonymous thumbnail, seen purely by chance on the Internet. Who was the girl in the picture ? I've no idea but as the painting took shape in the studio she became "the girl from Brazil". I don't know anything else about her, except perhaps that she likes to salsa.

The Tibetan Boy

(Above) The Tibetan Boy
Mixed water-based media on 100% cotton rag, acid free paper.
13.5cm x 16cm
August 2010

The Ascot Hat

(Above) The Ascot Hat
13cm x 16cm
Mixed water-based media on 100% cotton rag, acid free paper.
August 2010

London Girl (born in Djibouti)

(Above) London Girl (born in Djibouti)
13.5cm x 16cm
Mixed water based media on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper
August 2010

This painting started as a study after a photograph of a friend. I hesitate to call it a portrait as I'm not sure that the likeness is there. However, as Marie Laurencin demonstrated with her Portrait of Mademoiselle Chanel (see below), the lack of likeness with the sitter doesn't necessarily mean an unsucessful painting (and vice versa of course). Regards London Girl, I wanted to produce a painting that said something about my friend's style, which to me speaks of contemporary, multi-cultural London.
(Below) Portrait of Mademoiselle Chanel by Marie Laurencin (1923)
Chanel turned the portrait down saying it didn't look like her.

The American Widow (wears a splendid black hat)

(Above) The American Widow (wears a splendid black hat)
13.5cm x 16cm
Mixed water-based media on 100% cotton rag, acid-free paper
August 2010
Amongst others, this painting speaks of my passion for the art work of Kees van Dongen who loved to paint women with big eyes wearing lashings of mascara and big hats.

Out of Africa

(Above top) Out of Africa
(Above below) African Woman


Two new small paintings (12.cm x 15cm) in mixed water based media (indian ink, acrylic ink, Caran d'ache Neocolour II) on 100% cotton rag, acid free paper.

Having never been to Africa, my idea of the black African woman is shaped largely by cultural representations of her. An illusion perhaps, but one that has its own reality.