A collector from
Los Angeles emailed a few weeks ago. He has one of my very early
enamels and wanted to give one of my works to a woman who's played a
significant role in his career. I suggested Study for Refined Face, Career Babe series
and emailed a small selection of digital studies with varying colours.
We talked more about the artwork and the woman to whom he's giving it,
then chose the final version together. I painted it in gouache on paper
over the next week. Some days I worked in the air-conditioned conference
room at the industrial facility. When it wasn't too humid, I worked at
home in my bedroom-study-studio.
Every few days, I emailed
progress photographs to the commissioning collector. I think of it as a
virtual studio visit. I've included around a third of them below. When
the artwork was finished I wrapped it in archival tissue, flat-packed it
in corrugated plastic and send it by courier from Australia to
Califonia. It arrived in a few days.
After production issues with
the last of my large enamels and health problems that took a long time
to resolve it was an extraordinary relief – and pleasure – to once again
be able to create an artwork, deliver it on schedule and make it an
enjoyable, meaningful process for everyone involved.















