The Nocturnal

Oil on Linen ACM panel
Inspiration: A night bird when I was younger, I found my most creative time to paint was 9pm-3am. This is a self portrait of a moment in my life, a bohemian that loves music and the night. The background was a memory of a wall down in Soho NY of a place called Danceteria. The model is in deep thought observing the unknown around her. These surroundings in the city inspired me creatively. They were full of artists and many textures.
Process: It starts with a story of a moment or happening in my life from when I was a kid. I use this model allot as I paint her from life and she reminds me of me when I was younger. I do all photoshoots myself like a cinematographer would, controlling the mood via light and the costumes. The hat and dress are mine. The background is imaginative and a memory of a place in Soho in the late 80's that I used to dance on weekends. The dress is not brocade but I painted it to be that texture as I wanted a Stevie Nicks feeling to the style. I also changed the hot pink color to a red raspberry with mahogany to harmonize colors. I wanted the lighting to feel as if it was film noir, a nocturne to describe being a nocturnal being. I never copy the photo but use it is a tool and jump off point. In the end, it has to be figurative storytelling and my poems I write for the paintings need to make sense with the visual.