We all have places where we feel at ease, a sense of belonging, of ownership, of relaxation, of self. Given the opportunity, portraitists love to place their sitters in an environment where they are most at home.
To capture a person in their element – from athletes to architects, politicians to performers – offers artists the possibility of unveiling and celebrating what it is that makes their sitter unique. Seeing the place someone does the work that defines them, among the things they surround themselves with, in a space they have made, on Country which is connection to family, ancestors and life – all are an invitation for the viewer to explore aspects of the depth of the individual depicted. Sometimes it is what makes a good portrait an unforgettable one.
Verandas, living rooms, pools, playing fields, kitchens, studios, libraries, gardens, offices, driveways, bedrooms, streets, landscapes: feeling at home – no matter where that is – can bring out the heart of the individual.
