The two most recent portraits I've worked on have been couples; Christoph and Shaka and Michael and Robert. I was looking forward to painting Christoph's Marimekko patterned suit (he posed in it at my request); I have a nostalgic fondness for Marimekko from the "Danish Modern" aesthetic that was popular in some of my friends' households when I was young. I always loved those big bold splashes of color. 
Michael and Robert also put a great deal of effort into their outfits, creating a wonderful puzzle for me to articulate with paint.
The challenge thus far for me in painting the couples is in find a palette and tone that embraces them both and allow the figures to sit happily in the same pictorial space.
As with all of these portraits, I am myself more and more intrigued by the space that the figures sit in. These paintings talk to each other as they emerge. I am waiting to see where this conversation goes.

I’m in the thick of painting now; beyond the predictable parts, and really thinking and dreaming in paint.
I think these portraits all talk to each other in the studio when I’m not there. I realized that I have to work them all up to similar states together, so no one feels neglected. This next step is more time consuming; so far three portraits have been developed to the point where much of the face and body are well indicated. As the image emerges, I find myself thinking about the illusion of dimension and flatness. 

A variation on the formal portrait. Inspired by Holbein's "The Ambassadors", I wanted to celebrate my daughter and partner's achievements as Dive Masters.