“The painting process/ bringing Roisin to life”

The Process Of Creating The First Painting Of Roisin –

I had already created her in my mind, her physicality and personality. The interesting part was starting at her beginning as a child, through her teenage years and into adulthood. Her complete and full life was played out in my mind with all its myriads of developments and changes. But the Roisin that became my obsession was the sensual and passionate woman she turned into. I needed to depict her feeling at her most powerful, as an adult, her longing was her currency, love was a distant hope.

I needed to paint her conveying her needs, laid bare, almost naked, yet preserve something that reveals the unadulterated innocence she would have preferred. Her long red hair and fair skin defined her Irish decent, her temperament and independence spoke of her journey. To the voyeur her image needed to suggest strength and confidence and only those reading her story will come to know the truth beneath the negligee.

How Roisin’s Personality Shaped The Artistic Process –

I wanted the painting to have depth, layer upon layer. I chose to use Oils paint, a medium I have not used for some time. Knowing there would be challenges I looked up best mediums to use to produce the desired effect. I took this painting more seriously than any other I have done. I started with a pencilled grid; in the hope I would spend less time on correcting mistakes. It worked. I was desperate to apply colour and feel her coming to life. I wanted the painting to look rich, velvety, full of movement and promise just like Roisin.

What Inspired My Colour Palette – And How It Evolved With Me –

The painting presents with a strong contrasting palette, a black and shadowy background depicting mystery and passion behind closed doors and the light focuses on her sensuality, her naked skin and the vibrancy of her flowing red hair. With her eyes closed, she keeps her own thoughts. Her body and seductive pose let those looking upon her presume her thinking. The brush strokes were sweeping and loaded with paint to create excitement and a closer connection with the onlooker. I loved building up the painting and struggled to stop. I usually try and paint something perfectly smooth, blended and faultless. Because of whom Roisin is, I needed to be brave, messy and adventurous. I am so glad I embraced change; it has given me an exciting option to explore.

The Challenges I Faced – And How I Grew Through Them –

I last painted with oils when I was fourteen and, in those days, I never considered using mediums such as smoothing or drying agents. This time I knew to get good results; I would need to look at the options. Being impatient and wanting to crack on I did put paint to canvas with little preparation and hoped for the best. Even though my manipulation of the oils felt awkward and at times cakey, she turned out great… but took a month to dry because of the depth of the layers. I also struggled with the overbearing fumes from thinners and brush cleaning terps, and my mask was annoying and useless. One memory I know that will never fade, is having placed the still wet painting (should have been ready for my book launch in Soho, London!), flat on the collapsed back seats of the car, and watching my husband in a rush fling his wedding suit jacket across the face of Roisin; I just froze…then flipped!!
…. Hey ho; the price and love of art.

What Her Portrait Taught Me About Roisin –

Interesting question; I think it deepened my understanding of my main character Roisin. I loved the fact she came to life at my own hand. The hours spent applying the colours and their intensity awakened my senses to her imminent arrival. Once the image of her transferred from my mind and on to the canvas, I was transfixed by her presence. Even though I considered no further perfecting needed be done, I stared at her for hours, unable to pull myself away. I remember feeling, that if I walked away from her and the wonderful moments we had shared, I was stepping away from something or someone I needed….and I may leave a piece of me behind.

The Language Of Her Portrait: What The Details Revealed –

The colours are rich and bold, revealed only by the direction of light. The textures highlight her sensuality, her naked skin and the silk of the negligee that barely hides her virtues. The sumptuous green velvet chair and blended black background add to that which she wishes to portray, a darkness within, seduction and availability. She does not shy away from her sexuality and expects to be perceived as such.

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