Why I Paint People: The Connection Between Art and Humanity
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to people—their faces, their gestures, the way emotions flicker across their expressions. Even before I fully embraced figurative painting, my work often revolved around the eye, that single, intimate detail that holds so much depth. But now, as I step deeper into colour and explore the human figure more fully, I find myself asking: why do I paint people?
Art as a Mirror of Emotion
Faces tell stories. A glance, a furrowed brow, a quiet moment of stillness—these small details carry weight. I find that painting people allows me to explore emotions in a way that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Unlike abstract work, which invites endless interpretation, figurative art grounds the viewer in something tangible. It’s an immediate connection, an unspoken dialogue between the subject and the observer. When I paint a figure, I’m not just creating an image; I’m capturing a feeling, a fleeting moment of humanity.
From Eyes to Full Figures: My Artistic Shift
For a long time, my focus was on drawing eyes—isolated yet expressive, a small window into something bigger. I loved the challenge of conveying emotion through such a confined space. But as I moved into painting and began experimenting with colour, I realised that I wanted to expand that expression.
Now, I paint figures in motion, bodies intertwined with colour and light. There’s something incredibly freeing about capturing not just an expression, but posture, movement, the subtle energy that a body can hold. It’s no longer just about seeing—it’s about feeling.
The Universal in the Personal
One of the most fascinating things about painting people is how personal work can feel universal. I might be drawing inspiration from a specific moment, a memory, or even an imagined figure, but once the painting is complete, it takes on a life of its own.
A viewer might see themselves in the work. They might see a stranger, a loved one, or a moment they’ve experienced. This is what excites me most—creating art that feels deeply human, something that resonates beyond my own perspective.
Why Humanity Will Always Be My Subject
As long as I continue to create, I know people will always be at the heart of my work. We are complex, flawed, and beautifully expressive beings, and there’s an infinite number of ways to capture that on canvas.
Figurative art isn’t just about painting people—it’s about understanding them. It’s about connection, empathy, and the endless exploration of what it means to be human. And that’s something I’ll never stop being inspired by.
Do you find yourself drawn to figurative art? What is it about people in paintings that resonates with you? Let me know in the comments, or check out my latest work to see how my exploration of humanity is evolving.
.M.
Be real.
Make art.