28 March - 2 April 2023. Thistle hall community gallery.
People Watching was my first solo exhibition, held when I was 18.
At 18, I was still figuring out what it meant to be an artist.
People Watching became an opportunity to bring a collection of paintings together as one body of work the first time,
The paintings in the exhibition were inspired by the people and moments I noticed around me.
Looking back, the exhibition feels like the beginning of many of the ideas that continue to appear in my work today.
I am still fascinated by people.
And I am still drawn to the tension that can exist in a single expression, gesture or glance.
For me, portraiture has never been only about capturing what someone looks like.
It is about trying to capture something that cannot necessarily be seen but rather informed by the background.
People watching - first solo Exhibition
I often get asked how I choose my subjects. My portraiture changed when I began noticing moments instead of faces. It’s not about the person who poses well, It’s about the person who forgets they’re being watched. Portraiture thrives in authenticity, not perfection.
In the almost-laugh, the held breath, and the unfinished sentence. The best portrait subject is the one who stands on the edge of something, and lets you stand there with them.
How to find the perfect subject
The Atlas Project
The Echo Project
The Brightline Project
