This is a portrait of my most dear friend and soul mate, George. It is a traditional studio portrait in oils on canvas, 60cm x 50cm (24in x 20in) - slightly under life size. George is depicted in what was his favourite shirt at that time, which came to lend its name to the portrait - “Velvet George” (even though the shirt was cotton, not velvet). I painted a great deal of love into this portrait, from the slightly guarded, withheld smile that is so unmistakably George, to the unwavering stare of those beautiful blue/grey eyes; eternally and forever now, looking out from the canvas. As you move around in front of the portrait, you will see that George’s eyes follow you. Try it. Spooky, no? You think George is looking at you, right? Wrong! He’s looking at me, the painter. And I don’t mind telling you that he was just a tiny tad impatient with my slow progress. So cute. Twenty-nine years later, he’s just as cute, and he still gets cross with me when I dawdle. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without my beautiful George in it.
Velvet George
Detail from Velvet George