River Solitude: Reflection by the River

A Can And His Dog (detail), Queens Promenade, Fountain Pen and Watercolour, Fabriano Mixed Media A4. River solitude

Usually I don’t paint or draw people outside of my portrait work because I like my landscapes to be empty, and anyway it feels a little intrusive to paint or draw people in public. Sometimes I feel the piece needs a focus, or something attracts me about someone. But as these painting attest, it’s usually about the singular solo moment, the solitude standing.

Cyclists Dismount, Queens Promenade, Fountain Pen and watercolour, Fabriano Mixed Media A4.

Fluorescent Girl, Queens Promenade, Fountain Pen and Watercolour, Fabriano Mixed Media, A4

Solitude stands in the doorway
And I’m struck once again by her black silhouette
By her long cool stare and her silence
I suddenly remember each time we’ve met
Suzanne Vega – Solitude Standing

The Paddleboarders, Queens Promenade, Fountain pen and Watercolour, Fabriano Mixed Media, A4,

Rivers not only are reflections, they quite often are places of reflection and introspection, too.

I wasn’t going to post all of these, but I think they work as a set. Something almost De Chirico about some of these, and I’ve realised I almost always portray people facing away from me.