Shelter Painting

“But the lamp of the body is the eye, therefore if your eye shall be sound, your whole body also will be illuminated. “ That verse from Matthew 6:22 has been quoted in so many different ways. The most famous one was written by Shakespeare, who phrased it as “The eyes are the windows to your soul.” And to me, the eyes are where I first focus when I begin my work. There is where I can capture and immortalize the feeling that my subject portrays. With my expressive use of colour I hope to evoke the spiritual and emotional statement of my subject. I like to juxtapose the linear rhythms of my brushstrokes against the tactile and textural swathes of the palette knife. The quick application of paint allows me to express the immediacy of the moment; for I believe that emotions can change in a split second. The highs and lows of shadows create a contrast that may enhance or contradict the sentiment. My background as a life coach has allowed me to have a close relationship with feelings and emotions and I welcome the viewer to create their own interpretation of what the person may be experiencing. In a time of selfies and social narcissism I want the emotion to take front stage, to allow ourselves to view the subject from within.