Have a look at this page to read what this is all about.
Life has been very full of change for me recently, I have a new job and a new place to live all at once. I feel extremely lucky and also very unsure of myself at this very moment, at the beginning of new experiences.
I really appreciate what Sophie has shared in the above link, I think it’s super generous and I’m looking forward to working on this over the next while. Wish me luck 🙂
As well as trying to pick up this new habit to help me get back on the proverbial drawing horse, I had the feeling over the past few days that it would be really worthwhile for me to try a self portrait soon, and while I had (over ambitious) dreams of pulling out an unused canvas and acrylic paints, I settled with more simple and immediate colouring pencils. I’m not extremely happy with the result of my drawing – it’s a little skewed, the textures are inconsistent and the colours are too colourful! – but it felt important to sit with myself for a while today in studious contemplation.
I still have hopes that I can improve on my portraiture skills, but am afraid to try sometimes, afraid to get it wrong.
If, like me, you really love portraiture, get yourself down to Leeds Art Gallery to see the amazing exhibition, Silent Echoes, Spoken Truths: Curtis Holder. I visited with my friend while he was in residence earlier in 2024 and got to see some of the works-in-progress through the window in the space connecting the gallery to the Henry Moore Institute. When we visited the final exhibition about a month ago, I was really moved by the intimacy of these portraits. They are deftly and elegantly shaped and built up with colour pencil and graphite. Like Holder, the sitters are also people of the global majority, and each piece includes conversation about and in response to other works from the gallery’s collection. I love this exhibit and would recommend anyone to go see it if you can.Â
