I am a portrait artist, primarily working in acrylic and oil paints. Instead of seeing people in skin tones, I use colours to depict how I view the subject’s persona and facial expressions. I have done two series so far, 'Jazz Musicians' and 'Micro-Expressions'. At the forefront of my work is the expression on the individuals face. Painting portraits, for me, is a way of connecting to that individual on a physical level by studying the structure of their face. More recently, I have wanted to delve deeper and incorporate a contextual element. 

 

Name: Lauren Fiona Jeffery

Age: 23 

Artform: Portrait Artist

Why did you apply for creative futures? 

The Creative Futures program would offer me the ability to work with and be inspired by other creatives; working alongside other creatives is a rare and invaluable opportunity. I also find that working in a studio is a brilliant environment to encourage confidence in creative work and offers the freedom to push your work forward. 

I'm drawn to the idea of becoming an art therapist later in life. Running creative workshops for young people in Bristol would help me pursue this path further. I want to create a workshop that aids young people in their everyday life. 

Tell us about the work you are currently making. 

I am a portrait artist, primarily working in acrylic and oil paints. Instead of seeing people in skin tones, I paint the subject in colours that I perceive link to their facial expressions. I have done two series so far, 'Jaz Musicians' and 'Micro-Expressions' and I have recently started a third series called 'The People Behind Sustainability'. I am looking to develop this series and incorporate creative journalism into the work. I am a passionate environmentalist; therefore, I would like this series to help start a conversation around sustainability and individuals. 

At the forefront of my work is the expression on the individuals face. Painting portraits, for me, is a way of connecting to that individual on a physical level by studying the structure of their face. More recently, I have wanted to delve deeper and incorporate a contextual element. 

What topics would you like to explore and why? 

I want to explore sustainability because I am passionate about the direction society needs to go. My journey started five years ago when I turned vegan due to animal welfare. I continued to research the topic and found that veganism is as much about environmentalism as animal welfare. With a sparked interest in sustainability, I directed my university studies towards sustainability and human behaviour. Due to the current international attention that sustainability is receiving, it's the perfect time to do a creative series about sustainability and its people; therefore, I will be doing a series on 'The People Behind Sustainability'.

 Where do you see yourself at the end of the programme?

I hope to have a substantial and fully developed series that I am proud of. By the end of the programme, I would like to build my confidence in creating and delivering workshops for young people.

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