That seems to be the direction at the moment. I did literally that this morning to finish this painting. In my view it gives it an observed intensity, which I like, at the same time I don’t regard this as illustration as there is a simplification process happening. Anyway the word ‘illustration’ does not terrify me as it used to, simply because a lot of contemporary figurative artists I like take a similar approach and that youthful ignorance I had has vanished. This painting is finished.
Lemington Bank, Northumberland