Looking Back was completed in December 2016. It was one of the first of a large series of figure paintings. A series that I’m still working on today. The inspiration for the image was pulled from a bank of reference images from New Master Academy, the model’s name is Rajiv. I didn’t know it at the time but this painting was a big influence on me adding story and narrative to my work.
I loved the action of the figure. He is in mid motion of a very simple gesture, looking over his shoulder. What is behind him? What is he looking at? I wondered for a while and toyed with the idea of adding something there. But in the end determined that the metaphor of looking back was far more powerful.
We are constantly looking back from where we’ve come. How far we’ve come. How much we’ve progressed. The figure represents reflection as well as movement forward.
Total time: 6 hours
