Colour and Presence (Ewa)

These two acrylic paintings were completed during a portrait session with Ewa. While they emerged from the same sitting as a series of distance drawings, the paintings take a different approach. Rather than exploring movement and gesture through repeated lines, they focus on colour, structure and the relationship between the sitter's posture and expression. Both works simplify form while retaining a strong sense of presence.

Ewa seated I, by Stephen Clively, acrylic on oil sketch paper, 59.4 cm by 42cm, 2026

The intern says: In this painting the figure leans against the back of a chair, creating a more relaxed and asymmetrical composition. The purple background provides a contrasting field for the pink flesh tones and blue dress. The painting simplifies anatomy into broad interlocking shapes, while retaining enough information to establish the pose and character of the sitter. The emphasis falls on balance, colour relationships and structure rather than descriptive detail, allowing the image to remain direct and economical.

Ewa seated II, by Stephen Clively, acrylic on oil sketch paper, 59.4 cm by 42cm, 2026

The intern says: This painting depicts the model seated frontally in a blue dress against a dark background. Broad passages of colour establish the figure, while black linear accents define key features and contours. The yellow chair introduces a strong secondary shape that supports the composition. Rather than pursuing detailed likeness, the painting focuses on the relationship between colour, posture and expression. Variations of pink, blue and yellow animate the surface and create a sense of presence within a relatively simple arrangement.