Portraits

This painting is the largest and most ambitious I’ve ever attempted. The image is based on a photograph by Martin Adler, a war reporter who travelled extensively in Africa and Asia and was killed in Somalia in 2006. Although primarily a journalist and camera-man, his photography is also inspiring.

Martin’s photography agency Panos Pictures has a comprehensive library of his work: http://tinyurl.com/32cejdq

A documentary has recently been made of Martin’s life and works: www.martinadlerdocumentary.com

Samuel Hampton (2010) American Soldiers in Iraq. 36″ x 24″, Oil on Canvas

Its hard to show scale in this online gallery, so the image below helps to show the size of this painting.

This painting is from a larger image of a group of drummers. I particularly liked these three because of the way they’re sitting and have their eyes closed. I enjoyed using warmer colours in this painting. Oil on Canvas 12″ x 16″. For sale at £150.

Samuel Hampton 2004. Pencil on Paper. 6″x4″. SOLD

Samuel Hampton 2006. Charcoal on Paper. 15″x15″. £50

Samuel Hampton 2007. Charcoal on Paper. 18″x10″. £60

Samuel Hampton 2007. Charcoal on paper. 10″x10″. SOLD

Samuel Hampton 2006. Oil on Canvas. 12″x8″. Sold

Samuel Hampton 2006. Oil on canvas. 15″x9″.

I have had far more positive feedback on this painting than any other. Perhaps not surprising as I also spent far more time on this than most other paintings. This was a very rewarding image to paint, as the colours are so warm and varied, and I like the composition. As one of the first oil paintings I completed, this was also a learning process, as I found out how adaptable oil could be to adjusting and correcting parts – I must have redone the man’s nose 10 times!

Samuel Hampton 2007. Oil on Canvas. 12″x18″. Sold.

This is a portrait of my step-father, Dermot. Since taking this photo of the painting, I have altered the background, and also adjusted his jaw-line, as he looks a little too chubby here!