Painting as Sculpting

I have often thought about myself as a sculptor. When I am working on a portrait, I think of it in 3D even though I’m working on it in 2D. The building of a face makes me think I’m carving the likeness out of graphite on paper. The adding and subtracting of features reminds me of working in clay. I think of the whole face not just the one people are seeing, what does it look like on the other side. What is my subject thinking about? What are they doing right now and what will they do next. After the drawing I add the paint which adds another dimension to the piece. The watercolor paint has it’s own story to tell which I find very exciting. It’s out of my control, which is terrifying and trilling all at once. I’m still a sculptor but a sculptor in water and color.