Whenever I create a portrait I first study the sitter, the person I’m doing the portrait of. Talking over a cuppa or perhaps eating and making conversation, I’m learning who the sitter is. I may take many photos of them during the study process; however I make countless mental notes and look for the individual’s unique spark.
We all have distinctive twitchers or habits that we may not notice but others, like me, do notice. I want the portrait to say a lot about who I am sketching but it also has to say a lot about the artist as well.
After studying my sitter and taking mental notes I then decide what surface it will be best sketched on: canvas, MDF or matt board. For this demonstration I am using matt board. It is the exact same board art framers use to put around the outside of a piece before it’s framed. I love matt board because it’s a slightly
