Waitakere Trust Art Awards 2010

"39 & Looking West"

This work started as an exercise in portrait painting, of my artist friend Kristina. As per usual, it takes me a while to think of a style which captures my imagination, and which I believe suits the subject. In this case, it was the work of pre-Renaissance artist Baldovinetti. However, while the general approach was based around the Florentine style of paintings, the hair has been given a more contemporary twist, which is not characteristic of the era. I liked this juxtaposition and kept it in the final work.