Preparations, 1985

The preparation before a boxing match seems to have a muted tension which I have tried to encapsulate in this painting.
I apply the acrylic paint in a liquid form as the board absorbs the paint, so there is no need to worry about breaking down the paint binder. Pastel has been used sparingly for some highlights. I use the artist's large hogs-hair brushes to manipulate the work to give it a robust rendition. However, because this work is on a Studland board, no varnish finish is applied due to its absorbency. Therefore, the painting should be framed with a mount and placed under glass. I recommend at least an 80 mm-wide frame; narrow frames on large paintings do not sit well and have a tendency to warp. The painting was revised in 2022.