A month of Ilene

During a month-long residency in Rosendal, a small town in the Free State, South Africa I created this work. I had wanted to take time to explore a new way of working, and when my magnificent friend told me about her new home, I had to find a way to visit.

This cropped watercolour and thread portrait was created on a stoep, surrounded by fallen leaves, daily visits from cattle and their shepherds, birds and welcome strangers. It became the basis of the collection that was on show at Paradigm Gallery in my show, Some Strings Attached, a collection of watercolour and thread work that explores expression composition portraits. Each is carefully formed in a vibrant, and colourful palette, up close and intimate.