Alastair Adams PPRP

I like to visit subjects in their own environment, or a location appropriate to the nature of the commission, as I find this helps subjects to act as naturally as possible. My portraits are painted in oil, on board, as I like to modify compositions and revise initially painted statements during the process of a commission or self-initiated work. This is in order to reflect the revealing nature of the portrait painting process and enables the production of a more incisive and rewarding portrait. The process of creating a portrait usually involves me firstly finding a subject, either according to my current interests or being approached about painting to commission. Initial sittings are usually in a location specific to the subject or telling of their position or situation. Time is then spent painting, drawing and photographing, in an attempt to get to know the subject. As well a being a process for capturing visual information, sketching also creates the time for conversations that often inform my approach to a painting. Once an initial composition is agreed upon, I will spend time working on location or in the studio producing the painting. Due to the revealing nature of the portrait painting process, initial compositions and painted statements are removed, replaced, modified or introduced in order to provide a more rewarding and incisive image. Commissions vary in duration due to the complexity of the subject matter and surroundings. A simple head and shoulders can be a relatively direct straightforward process, whereas a multi-figure composition will require naturalistic interaction between the individuals and the introduction of a sympathetic location.