The desire to paint some object or person is either there or not.  As a way of examining the reasons for that, I began asking myself why some subjects pull me and others don’t.

This process hasn’t provided a concrete answer, but it did lead me to realize that whatever strikes me as beautiful is in the subject itself. So I attempt to describe that subject as well as possible. It’s not accuracy in a bloodless way, but an effort to convey the essence of it.

I do very complete, precise studies in order to learn about the material nature of the object of my work. I want to know what makes rose leaves different from lilacs, and blonde hair different than brunette.

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“Perfection can only be acquired through practice, as laziness never produced anything of value.”
—De La Fontaine, Philosophy of Drawing from 17th century Spain

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