Shadow Boxer, 2021

This man was observed at a festival at Gloucester Docks, UK. As with other art project observations, he was unaware of me and I was able to study him for a long period. He was quite muscular and obviously worked out, so, using my own 'wrapped' hands as reference, I was able to fashion the shadow boxer with earphones.

The work consists of a Rowney Cryla acrylic base coat of burnt orange over the gesso manufacturer's finish. Opaque pigments have been used to lay down some areas, also acting as undercoating for sections of the subject matter. Subsequent layers of acrylic paint have been applied laced with Liquidex airbrush medium to achieve a wash layer. This thin multiple layering of pigment allows for subtle tonal attributes and a degree of luminosity, avoiding the usual flat acrylic finish.