Jean Graham
I wanted to paint a portrait that looks like the subject and also tries to reflect their passions and personality.
In this portrait, Vincent is wearing a favourite cycling top from the first club that he joined. I’ve used a length of cycle chain to create texture in the portrait, swirling it through the paint to suggest movement on the bicycle - muscles turning pedals, following a winding route, thoughts relaxing.
The painting is inspired by Jenny Saville’s series of drawings “Reproductions”, where multiple images of figures suggest the physical movement and vitality of little children. Here I’m using multiple images to explore ideas of identity not being fixed, and the complexity of life.
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