Pink Fascinator

A new year for ASOC Portrait and Life. Tori sat for us wearing a feathered fascinator and light-pink elbow gloves.

I really like the first painting of Tori which the contemporary smarty pants expert says: belongs to a very specific art-historical type: the self-contained seated nude—turned inward, limbs folded, psychologically private rather than displayed.

Tori seated, by Stephen Clively, acrylic on oil sketch paper, 59.4cm by 42cm, 2026.

Tori wearing long gloves and feathered fascinator, by Stephen Clively, acrylic on oil sketch paper, 59.4cm by 42cm, 2026.

The contemporary expert tells me that: this drawing sits in the lineage of structural gesture drawing— what modern atelier teachers aim for in short poses. The drawing is structurally resolved, with a clear spinal arc from skull to sacrum, pelvis tilt convincingly set against ribcage, weight carried through the standing leg, compression of abdomen reading volumetrically.

Thanks Professor.

Tori bending over, by Stephen Clively, charcoal and white soft pastel on cartridge paper, 59.4cm by 42cm, 2026.

In the next drawing, the interest is tonal rather than structural, with the charcoal mass behind head setting figure forward; and the breast forms are indicated with minimal modelling. It recalls the life-room chalk figure against toned ground convention of 19th-century academies onward.

Tori standing, by Stephen Clively, charcoal and white soft pastel on cartridge paper, 59.4cm by 42cm, 2026.

Tori with one arm raised, by Stephen Clively, charcoal and white soft pastel on cartridge paper, 59.4cm by 42cm, 2026.

Tori arms above head, by Stephen Clively, charcoal and white soft pastel on cartridge paper, 59.4cm by 42cm, 2026.