SOLD.

I believe no matter which art form you create, whether it be writing, singing, acting - there is always something of yourself that exists within the work. As a painter of people, I am cognizant of the fact that parts of myself often land on the page and that my people end up embodying certain moods/expressions as a result. And then for whatever reasons, there are the works that seem to capture more of you than others. It’s only happened a handful of times, but when I stepped back and looked at this piece, I felt a strong connection to it. It was undeniable, especially in her body language. She was perfectly conveying something I had felt in the past and present (perhaps my entire life). And then It immediately brought to mind one of my favourite poems by Nick Laird, Light Pollution. It’s not often I read a poem, and feel as though the poet has written the poem about me, and yet for all intents and purposes, I am the patron saint of elsewhere and I suppose I always have been.

No other title would do.

From my website: With this portrait, I wanted to convey the feeling of 'what now?' that occurs in us when our lives no longer match our inner narrative. When we spend our days physically present in one setting, but our minds are elsewhere - off exploring - living an entirely different life for ourselves, and the two no longer seem connected. What I love about this painting, is the contradictory nature of her body language. On the one hand, she seems to be carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders - and yet, her hands suggest she is holding onto nothing, and has let everything go.’

The Patron Saint of Elsewhere

51 × 76 cm/20 × 30 inches

Gouache on Yupo paper

She is available via my website