Portrait of Ms. Brooks 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.