Inside My Painting Process

Inside My Painting Process

My method and inspiration

I’ve been asked this question a few times, so I thought it would be useful to explain how I create my paintings.

All of my paintings are mixed media. I begin by laying down layers of acid-free tissue paper with gesso. Once that is in place, I add texture paste in several different ways. Some areas remain smooth, others are rough, and some have no texture paste at all. Every decision makes a difference.

After everything has dried—the waiting is the hardest part—I apply another layer of gesso and begin painting. I build countless thin layers of acrylic paint, using it almost like watercolour. This creates a sense of radiance from within the canvas, and because acrylic dries quickly, I can develop the layers gradually.

I often use a glazing medium, and every finished painting is varnished. The varnish protects the work and enriches the colours.

Colour is my greatest passion. I grew up loving the work of Dalí and Turner: Dalí for his imagination and abstract ideas, and Turner for his extraordinary ability to create light and radiance on canvas.