Tom Phillips

Tom Phillips, The Portrait Works: NPG Book

When making portraits, Tom Phillip has no strategy. He practise's over many sittings as he is a slow worker, which gives him the opportunity to get to know his subject in depth; their personality, moods and expressions. Over many sittings the sitter will relax into a natural pose, an artificial pose can't be held for so long. 'The final image is an amalgam of many moments and states of mind'

After reading the book Tom Phillips Portraits, I found that his drawings and a few paintings are inspiring

A set of drawings commissioned by Mathew Flowers in three or so sittings

68-71

Mathew Flowers 1985

Anna 1985

Sally East 1975
Pencil and Watercolour
28 x 20.3 cm

One of the three Oil studies of Brian Eno who was a student of Tom Phillips in the early sixties.

Brian Eno 1984/5
Oil on board
11 7/8 x 10 inch

A commissioned portrait, over about six months of Mrs Hilary Hugh-Jones. The central study re-worked several times while the smaller works around were each painted at a single sitting:

Mrs Hilary Hugh-Jones 1980

He painted one panel more than necessary.

Mrs Hilary Hugh-Jones 1980

Minsky on the Rocks 1988
Collage

33 x 29.5 cm