The thought occurred to me the other day - what am I actually studying when draw or paint some random heads found on the internet? Am I studying the heads, the paint, or the process?

At first I thought I was studying heads but it doesn’t really matter who’s head I’m painting when I do these little studies because I’m looking for an arrangement of light and shadow that’s interesting, dramatic and exciting.

I never wonder “who are these people?” I never wonder what their lives are like…it’s hard to put context into the found heads without making up stories, and I’m not making up stories about them in these studies.

not really…

One head came with a name - a name written under the head - Celine. I’ve drawn Celine at least 5 times.

It’s very different when I paint people with context though - be that people I know or people I’ve been asked to paint, celebrities or even a self portrait. Context changes the work from a study to a painting, and I think this is because now I have a story to tell.

paintings are visual stories

so…

I suppose what I’m really studying when I select random heads off the internet is the process and the materials.