The Artist (2022)

I drew him at an exhibition in Paris of the work of the Danish artist Hammershoi. He was clearly well into his 80s, well dressed if unkempt and rheumy eyed. He was attended by daughter and granddaughter – made intelligent comments on technique, so I liked to think he might be a painter himself.

CHARACTER STUDIES (TRONIES)

A tronie Dutch Golden Age painting Flemish Baroque painting face is a type of work common in and that depicts an exaggerated or characteristic – not portraits but studies of an interesting character such as an old man or woman, an artist or a person of a particular race. I have a habit of making quick sketches of fellow patrons in bistros and trattoria – I later turned these into equally rapid oil sketches. I always draw interesting faces and only men – if you look intently but surreptitiously at a woman people can draw the wrong inference.