When I do portraits, the research into the subject of the painting enables me to connect with them in a new way.
When I started drawing, I was interested in the human face. I decided to concentrate on well-known figures and then test them out with my friends to see if they could recognise them. It was better than that because they started to buy my paintings. Gradually I have become confident and have painted all sorts of different subjects.
In 2013 I had a heart attack on Christmas Day. Some of the underlying causes were an inability to come to terms with anxiety. During my recovery period, I started to draw using crayons. I had the urge to recreate my feeling when I was in the hospital before my heart operation. I couldn't stop drawing. One underlying cause of my anxiety is lifelong hearing loss. I can paint portraits because ever since I can remember I have had to look at people to understand what they are saying.
When I do portraits, the research into the subject of the painting enables me to connect with them in a new way. By looking and then making marks, I can gradually have an inner dialogue with the people I paint. I listen to relevant music and watch interviews. Understanding the people I paint on a deeper level, I absorb these moments and create a likeness. It is like alchemy.
