My Top 5 Drawings of 2023
Is it a tad self indulgent to delve into retrospectives in January? Perhaps, but after having single womanly created the magic of Christmas for my own family, I’ll allow myself a look back at my year in art to feel like I am something more than a very imperfect parent.
Here is my top 5 Favourite Drawings of 2023. Won’t bother with frills, since, if you’ve taken only a cursory look at my work, you’ll know that’s not what I’m about.
5. Robin Williams
This was commissioned by my client specifically for their wall of inspirational figures, along with a well chosen quote. Now, I don’t have such a wall, but if I did, Robin Williams would probably be a fixture. I was a child of the late ‘80s – early ‘90s; you bet your bottom I thought the world of him. It’s not a coincidence he is a rare male portrait I think I’ve done rather well.
4. Salvador Dali
I think this was my year of male portraits. This one’s particularly unusual, since I’ve abandoned most of my minimalism in the hope of doing justice to his flamboyance. My habits will still crop up – terrible pun but it stays – in the way I designed the composition.
3. James Baldwin
It’s becoming increasingly apparent I’ve pushed myself very hard in 2023 to give a chance to my role models of the more male persuasion to shine. I’ve been a Baldwin fan for most of my life, and while it’s clearly not my most commercially successful portrait, it’s made my own heart happy and that’s what’s what.
2. Fred the Jack Chi/Bisto the spaniel
This will be a joint silver medal for Fred the Jack Chi and Bisto the spaniel. This was not just the year I drew a crazy amount of men, but also the year I discovered I could, in fact, draw dogs. Yes, it is work intensive and minimalism won’t cut it in the same way, or at least I’ve not found my way there yet, but I have very much enjoyed adding a new skill to my panoply. Apparently you can teach old dogs new tricks.
- Read my original blog article 'Barking Mad: I’m Doing Dog Portraits'
- Want to commission me to draw your dog? Get in touch at [email protected]
1. ‘Clara and the Invisible Friend’
It had to be the portrait of my secondborn, ‘Clara and the Invisible Friend’. The empty space symbolises so many things. The small child fading to make space for the woman she will one day become, the parts of her mind she chooses to keep from the world. She is very much a mystery wrapped in a conundrum, as well as the most intensely vibrant person. I can’t wait to see what magic she weaves in the future.
Thank you all for your purchases, love and attention this year. I wish you all the best for 2024.