The Figure

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“The longer you look at an object, the more abstract it becomes and, ironically, the more real.” Lucien Freud

The figure is a challenging and fascinating subject for the figurative artist as it has so many possible permutations. I try to walk a line between rigorous observation and accurate draughtsmanship on the one hand and loose, spontaneous mark making on the other.

Working from the figure was seen as the bedrock of art education for hundreds of years, but is now sadly neglected. As a discipline it sharpens all of your visual thinking which is of great help when faced with other subjects. It is also a great pleasure to pursue for its own sake and everyone becomes interesting when you try to draw or paint them.

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