For us it's important to work from life wherever possible. Plenty of modern painters use photography, and after a photoshoot wave their clients goodbye until the painting is finished. Working from life, on the other hand, amplifies the essence of the sitter. Over the course of several sittings it's not
Not only do they capture a particular moment in a person's life, with a mood and character all of their own, but as the years slip by, and the sitter matures, their meaning changes in a beautiful and mysterious way. Portraits, like people, are one of a kind. They are
The studio must be a beautiful and aesthetic realm in which to relax, to talk, to laugh and to feel a long way from the stresses of every day life. We believe that sitters who feel relaxed make the best subjects. The process of painting a portrait is a process
Philip Cath read history at Oxford and learned to draw at the Prince's Drawing School. Khloe and Philip later studied Fine Art together at Goldsmiths University on the prestigious MFA programme. Khloe is originally from the United States and they were married in San Francisco in 2000. Mr. and Mrs.
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A portrait is at heart a collaborative process between artist and sitter. The pose, mood, colour scheme and clothing are of utmost importance to the overall design of the painting. Taking the time to consider this on the first sitting is essential. Other items significant to the sitter - such
Rather ironically, many of the best paintings in English history have been painted by foreign artists. Artists like Sargent, Whistler, Holbein and Van Dyck were all drawn to London to paint portraits of the rich and powerful. England has always had an appetite for portraiture unlike anywhere else on earth.
Sometimes a simple, austere portrait heightens the physical and psychological presence of the sitter.
Some professions require a more formal, highly finished kind of portraiture with greater attention paid to the the fine details. Military personnel, clergymen, judges, KCs and sportsmen all present a specific sartorial challenge, which is readily
Nothing is more beautiful than genuine Lapis lazuli, lead tin yellow, or Chinese Vermillion. These are the same pigments that have been used in painting since renaissance times. In some cases modern, chemical pigments are preferable as they will not fade or discolour over time, but the vast majority of
A bit of space and a good north-facing window is all that's required. From our experience it makes for a memorable and enjoyable project for a whole family.
Visitors to the studio are always struck by how different it looks from one week to the next. The set up is always being changed and moved around to adapt to the demands of different projects. Stages are built. Different coloured backgrounds are hung up, shutters are drawn, props are
Painting young sitters is a joy and it is amazing how quickly children change. As parents ourselves, we well understand the profound nature of capturing fleeting youth. Our boys have both been painted many times and our portraits of them remain our most prized positions.
Perhaps surprisingly, younger sitters are
Drawing is a superb way of getting to know a new sitter's face, and forms the basis of the painting. Taking time to capture a likeness in pencil, helps to make the process more efficient; and the drawings are very often beautiful objects in their own right. For larger compositions,