The main portrait figure has been developed from new drawing of a model I am working with. I have always loved the visual dialogue of paintings within paintings. I am exploring the emotive potentials of incorporating references to art of the past. Matisse's 'Blue Nude' paper cut-out with flat colour particularly resonates with me. I wanted to invent a fleshy painted version of 'Blue Nude' rather than Matisse's flat blue colour shapes and this flesh quality began an ongoing dialogue relationship with the main portrait figure in the foreground. I intend this portrait to remain ambiguous, standing as an emotive question.