portraits

Portrait paintings in oil, pencil, bronze and marble by UK portrait artist Matt Harvey. I trained in Sculpture but make a variety of artwork in various mediums. I am naturally drawn to carving stone, but I love the gorgeous quality of oil paint and use techniques inspired by Baroque and Classical artists which I feel allow oil paints natural qualities to shine. Each piece is a collaboration with the sitter and we work together as in a dialogue to create the art, the sitter and commissioning person offering feedback, which I respond to until the sitter is happy. I work from life and also from photography. I paint portraits in single sittings, and also love working in stages in the studio. I love the optical effects of glazing oil paints. My drawings reflect my love of carving and I use a cross hatching technique which for me mimics the process of carving and refining stone. My work as a portrait artist is all to a high technical standard and made using the best oil paints and materials. For prices and frequently asked questions visit Commission a portrait.