Portraits
The opportunity to commission a unique portrait.
A portrait from life is as much a painting about the artist being observed as a representation of the sitter. It is a dialogue between the artist and sitter that is translated into paint on canvas, capturing the character of the sitter and the moment of recognition on the part of the artist.
I have been painting portraits for the past ten years. Sittings take between two and four hours, and up to a couple of weeks to complete the painting, depending on how I see the sitter and how I decide to describe them.
The portraits are painted in oils on a range of substrate including canvas, linen or wood. They are usually supplied unframed but edged in a gilt foil. Framing is available as an option.
I am now taking sittings in the studio or on location, as well as continuing with online sittings via Zoom.
You can view examples of my online portraits here.
Latest Work
The Partner
My latest portrait is an oil on linen painting of the partner of the commissioner.
This is the first painting for some time that I have produced without meeting the sitter. It was to be a surprise present and I therefore had to work in secret from just photographic reference.
It is hard to say if this is a disadvantage, but I know that my gut feeling is that I would always prefer to meet the sitter if possible as it gives me an impression of the person that might not come across from just one photograph. I hope that I have managed to capture the character here, however, as the image was a very appealing, warm picture to work from.
This is the smallest size that I offer for my oil portraits at 30x40cm. It is painted on stretched, primed linen and finished with a gilded edge and float-framed in oiled wood.
The Partner
© Simon Goss ARCA 2024
Oil on linen with gilded edges. 30x40cm
The Accountant,
Steve Williams
Steve has been my accountant for many years and runs a very successful practice with a specialisation in Medical Accounts.
He is a gregarious, ebullient character and I hope I have caught some of this in his expression as he was telling me a joke.
The portrait is set in his office with the ever-present blue and red folders in a box on the floor and a photograph of his daughters behind him.
This is a three-quarter length portrait as I wanted to include Steve's watch as a reference to accounting (for time).
The Accountant, Steve Williams
© Simon Goss ARCA 2024
Oil on canvas with gilded edges. 50x80cm
The Foodie, Simon Wright
My latest portrait is an oil on linen painting of Simon Wright, previously a food critic for the Times and now a renowned foodie and restaurateur in South Wales.
Simon sat for me at Wright's Food Emporium in Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire. The venue is part restaurant, part delicatessen, and is well known for their magnificent Pork Belly Cubano.
When you enter the converted pub, you head straight for the blackboard which shows the day's offerings. I have included this iconic feature of Wright's in the background.
This is my first three-quarter length portrait and is consequently the largest I have painted to date at 50x80cm. It is finished with a gilded edge and float-framed in black ash.
The Foodie. Simon Wright
© Simon Goss ARCA 2024
Oil on linen with gilded edges. 50x80cm
The Poet, David Hughes
David Hughes is a well known figure in Swansea and an accomplished poet of long standing.
David sat for me while we chatted about his writing and made notes in a little notebook he carries everywhere. He writes his poems in longhand, and his sheets, with crossings out and corrections, offer an insight into his thought process. I have included fragments of his workings for the poem "Staregazing - Aber Prom" about a murmuration of starlings he observed in Aberystwyth.
Dave's glasses are typically worn on his brow as he talks, and I particularly liked the small reflection of a yellow square that they picked up from a computer in my studio.
The Poet, David Hughes
© Simon Goss MA 2023
Oil on canvas with gilded edges. 50x60cm
Awards
This portrait won first prize at the Neath Open Art Competition 2024 run by Queen Street Gallery, Neath. The prize is a solo show at the gallery early next year.
The Actor, Richard Mylan
This is a double portrait of the actor Richard Mylan. I met Richard at the Swansea Writer's Circle towards the end of 2022 and was immediately struck by his enormous energy. I asked if he would sit for me and found him to be a fascinating subject, both his look and personality. I had the idea of having him hide half of his face with his hand to convey the dichotomy of an actor taking on a role.
I took several photographs for reference with each hand up in turn to give me options. I was fascinated to find that each side of Richard's face looked very different, which seemed to illustrate the idea that an actor needs a split personality to function. What began as a single portrait became a double, and took a further month to complete. They are oil on stretched canvas, each painting is 50x60cm with gilded edges.
The Actor, Richard Mylan, Left
© Simon Goss MA 2023
Oil on canvas with gilded edges. 50x60cm
The Actor, Richard Mylan, Right
© Simon Goss MA 2023
Oil on canvas with gilded edges. 50x60cm
Oil Portraits
Sit for me
If you've ever considered having your portrait painted, or to have a loved one commemorated, I am taking in-person sittings or
online commissions via Zoom. Contact me to arrange a session where I will make sketches and take photographs/screenshots while we talk. I will then paint an original portrait on stretched wrapped-edge canvas using the source material. The service is available for Europe, the USA, Canada and Australia.
Prices
Small (300x400mm) - £850
Medium (400x500mm) - £1,250
Large (500x600mm) - £1,750
Three-quarter length (500x800mm) - £2,500
All prices are unframed and do not include postage. Framing can be arranged on request.
Testimonial
“I was introduced to the versatile, Brynaman born and bred artist – Simon Goss through ‘Facebook’ where a friend of mine, Welsh Fashion Celebrity - Huw Fash shared a portrait of himself painted recently by Simon.
Simon’s paintings are exceptionally realistic and capture the multifaceted characteristics of his subjects, sincerely and brimming full of life. Arranging to have portraits of my mother and father was easy, convenient and reasonably priced. Simon chatted and sketched with ease over Zoom while my parents sat comfortably at home in their lounge and consequently we have as a family in the year 2020 an amazing gift of two wonderful portraits that will be appreciated over the years to come. I am extremely pleased with the finished portraits. Thank you from the bottom of my heart Simon.”
Ceri
(Posted with the sitter's permission)
Tysteb
"Mi ddes ar draws yr artist cain amryddan - Simon Goss sy’n enedigol o Frynaman wrth i’r dylunydd ffasiwn a cyflwynydd teledu - Huw Fash rhannu ei bortread ar ‘Facebook’. Mae lluniau Simon Goss yn hynod o realistic ac yn dangos cymeriad amlochrog eu ngoddrychau yn driw ac yn llawn bywyd.
Mi roedd trefnu i gael portreadau o fy mam a’n nhad yn hawdd,hwylus a rhesymol eu pris. Sgwrsiodd Simon yn glen dros Zoom tra’n braslunio’r lluniau wrth i’m rhieni eistedd yn gyfforddus yn eu lolfa. Ac felly mae gennom ni fel teulu anrhegion arbennig ar gyfer nadolig 2020 a portreadau a wneith y teulu werthfawrogi dros y blynyddoedd sydd i ddod. Mi rwyf yn bles dros ben gyda’r lluniau gorffonedig. Diolch o galon Simon. "
Ceri
(Wedi'i bostio gyda chaniatâd yr eisteddwr)
Framing
Portraits can be supplied framed if required. The photograph shows a comparison of the three sizes offered and the two styles of framing. The black frames are painted wood and the silver are brushed aluminium. Other styles/materials can be sourced if preferred such as bare wood or white. Frames are supplied with hanging wire already attached.
I recommend a tray style frame (custom sized to each portrait, as each canvas varies a little in size from another). These do not include glass and are therefore easier and lighter to ship.
