Portrait of Ms. Forten Painting

My portraits follow a long journey to their ultimate completion. I chose all of my subjects based on being inspired or moved by their work. I begin with an existing image or images of my subject, and from this I do studies, the piece evolves, and I let my intuition guide me as to what comes together, visually. I want to retain a likeness, but also, to go further than representation, and to let the subject take on a life of her own. From my multiple drawings of each subject, I select one or two versions for a woodcut study, upon which I can experiment with contrast, texture, expression, value, and mood. Some of the woodcuts have turned into finished pieces of art. The most successful woodcuts I choose to draw on canvas, and there, the painting with oil begins. Some pieces, from start to finish, have taken a year to complete. Hanging hardware is included, and the highest archival materials are used. This portrait of Ms. Forten went through a lot of changes to her attire, before I felt contented, and more than two years went by to complete this portrait. My subjects, by and large, have led such extraordinary lives, that it often feels overwhelming to portray them on canvas, and to attempt in the portrait, to capture the essence of who they were, and how they changed the world with their words.

Painting:Oil on Canvas

Original:One-of-a-kind Artwork

Size:24 W x 30 H x 4 D in

Delivery Time:Typically 5-7 business days for domestic shipments, 10-14 business days for international shipments.