Maria double composed

This time Maria posed as two figures in conversation, and once again the idea was to conceive the figures from the start in their setting – again, a square or squarish rectangle. The results were full of visual and dramatic interest.

Marie’s composition (top) has a gentle circular rhythm, aided by the extra face of the saintly sculpture on the mantelpiece. The other sculpture in the fireplace provides a stable centre around which the circle turns. Even the bare feet at different angles add somehow to the dynamic.

As soon as you have two interacting figures, a picture comes alive. A narrative is suggested. This is true of all the pictures here, and the subtleties of the stories told are conveyed in the body language and facial expressions in each drawing.