Part of my Studio collection, Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK.

Interviewer:

What and when was the most difficult painting you’ve ever painted?

Me:

In Lockdown, painting a ‘Girl on a beach wrapped in a blue’.

You were not allowed to go anywhere. So there was this great pressure to not waste the time one had been begrudgingly gifted. Then the added pressure of the unknown world we had just stepped into. Mentally these two aspects nearly destroyed me. As I bet it did to most people.

I chose to paint 'A girl wrapped in blue'. Based on an online stock photo of a girl on a beach, wrapped in a blue towel.

I wanted to use the time to paint it like the old masters. Give myself a once in a lifetime challenge. To choose a modern image and transform it into something almost biblical. Something I have never attempted before. Now, in hindsight now realising my mental space at the time this was definitely not a great idea. I got so angry at one point and sanded off the face and started again. Actually I think I remember I did that twice, but to the whole thing!

I am now left with something I am very proud of.

50 x 60.5 x 4.5 cm - Framed

40.7 x 50.8 x 0.5 cm - Unframed (approx 16 x 20 inch)

Oil on canvas panel varnished with a gloss finish.