
Rhea on Red
© 2018 | Oil on Canvas
Rhea could have a show of all her own portraits.
For this series, I wanted to give expression to the unflinching clarity she provides — anyone who asks her opinion. When I am at loss, her insights remove barriers that I cannot.
When working on this series, she gave me the best advice anyone has given me about portraiture: “John, you need to be brutal. Whether you like it or not.”
My favorite part of this piece is her hair. Acquiescing to the mark of my brush, I let the tool speak for itself – removing my Self out of its way.