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.
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
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Below are Janie Critchley's eyes. The full portrait is further down but the eyes are the best bit
Clare Joy - aged 17 painted in 2009
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
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