A painting begins with a visual idea, hazy at first, which I then try to construct. This may entail the setting up of an environment or tableau, gathering details through sketches, and many preliminary studies.
I paint people that I know and objects that hold a fascination for me. If I were to work from a model, I would not feel as engaged, and would have the sense of illustrating an abstraction. A portrait requires and expresses collaboration between me and the sitter.