On balance, I don't like doing portraits. People only care whether you have got a good likeness and I don't think I have yet found a way to bring whatever it is to the painting that is more important than a likeness. Having said that, a portrait is the only painting I have ever done that has been paid for!

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Compressed charcoal. Sue Woodman in Brittany 2013
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Clive Thomas and Sue Woodman. Compressed Charcoal - Brittany 2013
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Milo, aged 16. This was the first portrait that I did and I think it is the most successful. I painted it in the classes at Putney Oil on canvas
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A surprise Christmas present for Paddy in 2011 Oil on canvas

I am not very happy with any of the three portraits below, although I like Janie's eyes
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Oil on oil paper - Feb 2012

Seated Nude

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Charcoal and chalk on paper


Crystal Palace Life Drawing class

Reclining nude

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Oil on paper 2010 
Putney Art Class project. I love the pose

Painting of a screwed up photo

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Oil on paper 2010

Project at Putney Art Class

Clare Joy - aged 17    painted in 2009

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Oil canvas.

Property of Caroline Joy.

I found this quite hard to do - particularly Clare's mouth. Painting people is much more stressful than painting landscapes because there is the temptation only to consider whether a likeness has been achieved as opposed to whether it is a good picture.

Will Sumner - aged 21







Oil on canvas

Milo Sumner - aged 15



Oil on canvas


This was the first portrait that I did and I think it is the most successful. I painted it in the classes at Putney



George Sumner - aged 16







Oil on canvas

Janie Critchley







Oil on canvas


I am very pleased with Janie's eyes but not happy with how I have done her mouth which gives her a rather hard look which is not typical of her at all

Nude






Oil on canvas
I must have done this around 2005 - I think it was the first or second nude that I did. The colours are quite adventurous for me

Legs in jeans









Oil on canvas - 2009


This is Milo - i liked the way that his legs create such a sense of lateral direction. The table in the foreground is also interesting.

Milo in Tanzania







Oil on canvas   c2007
There is lots wrong with this but I like the legs. And I think you get a sense of movement

Nude





Oil on canvas