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‘Jess’ by Phoebe Hicks
🕑 Added 2022-01-18 13:30:59 +0000 UTCThis week’s Spotlight on Art features Jess by FAA graduate Phoebe Hicks.
We are excited to explore in depth the work of Phoebe Hicks. Phoebe graduated from the FAA Painting Program in 2012, and has returned to her native UK to work on her private commissions.
We hope you enjoy reading about her portrait drawing process!
“This is Jess, a best friend, who I first met in whilst studying in Florence as a teenager, drawn in my little studio space at home in New Romney, Kent, England.
Jess, also an artist, has sat for me many times, with the very first sitting taking place in Florence. This is my third completed drawing of her.
Phoebe Hicks, Jess, drawing stages.
I have always been fascinated by faces; from a very young age I wanted to draw portraits. I was inspired by my mother, who used to draw and paint my brother and me as children, sleeping under umbrellas on holiday or dutifully sitting still with the bribe of an ice cream.
I love drawing new faces. However I am pulled back to the same familiar faces due to curiosity in how they change over time, and marking my progress in technique. Self portraits often ofter a good benchmark of change and development, both in the face of the artist and their style, but I have found myself preferring to do this with my closest friends.
From above: Phoebe and Jess, Brighton, March 2018 and Phoebe drawing Jess in Summer 2020.
Transitioning from our 20s to 30s has been a conversation between many of my friends; the changes we feel in ourselves, mentally and physically.
Revisiting my previous portraits of Jess in her 20s compared to this latest one of her aged 30, her expression has a notable calm and confidence, which on comparison is not as obvious in the previous two.
Phoebe Hicks, Jess, drawn in Autumn 2018.
Capturing portraits of Jess over time, we have laughed at how it seems strange that a number should make such a difference, as well as noticing subtle changes in ourselves as we age. Social Media, and the scrutiny of physical beauty with growing body dissatisfaction, is a topic always at the tip of the tongue. How the elements that make each face individual, unique and beautiful are being ironed out by filters, photoshop and even surgery. If only those searching to change their image could instead embrace it, and view themselves through the eyes of an artist. The artist sees beauty in all faces, grateful for a sitter, with a focus on capturing an expression and light, not the perfect nose or the full pout. Jess and I have found that 30 has become the age of self-confidence.
Phoebe Hicks, Jess, drawn in Spring 2019.
In terms of technique, I have often been reluctant to document the progress stages of my work, finding myself feeling self-conscious when recording a time-lapse. I found myself wanting to perfect each stage, but have now begun to embrace each moment more honestly as to where the work has reached, as well as accepting the limit of my ability. Having the bar set permanently higher can be both good and bad, pushing for improvement, but acknowledging progress as the achievement.
I have found drawings more comforting, in that I am more satisfied with finding their end point. For me, this line is much more blurred with painting. Those paintings of friends which I have started always seem to stay in the safe stage of ‘early progress’, relieving them of too much critique, with the excuse of ‘well, it isn’t finished’. However, gaining confidence with my drawing has helped me find confidence in painting and, hopefully, one day, I will actually finish a painting of Jess."
More about Phoebe:
Phoebe Hicks (nee Cripps) was born in 1990, West Sussex, England. Enrolling at The Florence Academy in 2009, she graduated from their three year painting program in 2012. She has since moved to New Romney, Kent, and spends the majority of her time working on commissions. She took part in the competition ‘Sky Portrait Artist of the Year 2017', and in December 2020 took part in a 4 hour live broadcast to draw and talk with Dannii Minogue, who now owns the finished picture. Phoebe’s work can be found in private collections throughout England, Europe and America.
To view more of Phoebe’s work please visit:
Website: www.phoebehicks.co.uk
Instagram: @phoebe_hicks_artist
