I created the design using photos & film: The yellow petals have been individually picked from videos where I filmed them flying. I modelled myself for these photos. I designed the picture on photoshop, collaging elements of many photographs and bits of film together and adding my twist. Then I start painting in in layers, freehand, only using a large grid for the rough placement if an image is large and complex. Painting starts in greyscale on a tinted (mostly red) linen canvas, followed by around 4 layers of colour until the shapes, colours and whole of the painting comes together. The paintings are flat. My method and technique are based on the portrait method ‘sight size’ where one views the subject and the painting from a distance. This helps me have a looser brushstroke. I like that from a distance one sees a detailed image. At closer glance areas can be loosely painted but at a distance it comes together creating an illusion of detail that isn’t there.