I have been painting all my life, well on and off, full time for the last ten years,, without pursuing gallery representation, nor promoted myself in any way until facebook five years ago. For thirty years I painted only portraits, self taught, the expansion into other forms and styles, is relatively recent, for most of my history it was realism, though impressionism comes easily to me as well. I studied the work of the old masters, Rembrandt had a huge influence when I was younger. I wasn't the eclectic painter I am now, I started to explore surrealism in 2011 though I had been studying work by all the surrealists long before then, mainly the female painters of the 40's abstract didn't attract me till 2012, so it has been a gradual progression, and likely typical of most artists if they were to study art as I have, not by any particular teacher. Because I wasn't signed up to a gallery, I was able to follow my desires, not dependent on making a living from art as well gave me a lot of freedom, I hadn't expected an income from painting, I was trained as a therapist, before that a mother and wife. I took painting seriously, never approached it as a hobby, but circumstances and responsibilities held me back until ten years ago. I wanted to be the best I could and that included trying my hand at everything, from monoprint to abstract, yes I challenge myself to see if I can do this or that, I love to push myself and discover, and because I'm confident that I will be able to, I just do. I don't know why I haven't like most had a passion for one style or another, I think it maybe because I didn't think of my art as the bread winner, until recently, and now I seek gallery representation, I'm challenged to focus on one style, it feels like I have to choose one baby over another. I have been independent for a long time, I suppose had I like some artists been represented when younger it may have been different, but it wasn't a possibility, having no introduction to art as a child and not moving in an artistic community I had no artist friends, but that doesn't worry me as it would others. I truly am the hanged woman who pulled herself up by her own boot straps while hanging upside down.
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Below is an example of my changing portrait techniques.
Before this piece I had focused on a realism lasting a number of decades, since then I have been excited and inspired to explore a more contemporary approach to portraiture, moving back and forth from realism to semi abstract.
