Private booking, London, 3 February 2024

Esther and I returned to our humble corner of happiness in the studio of Avidyā for a booking brought forward by one week. Sad circumstances meant we would no longer be able to align with Chinese New Year, but there was no sadness on this day.

As per our three previous monthly sessions, we warmed-up with a couple of quickfire untimed poses for loose charcoal sketches. From start to finish our work for Avidyā is all about energy. It manifests most abundantly in the smiling faces.

For the main pose, we sought to recreate our physical and energetic connection from the previous month so Avidyā could continue developing a painting she’d marked out. We resumed our positions and reset our smiles.

We’d barely settled when the energy to lifted unexpectedly from joyful contentment to outright playfulness. Avidyā unwrapped a new canvas to capture her fresh inspiration. She’d seen purity with a childlike innocence and wanted to paint us in a child’s style.

For an adult to paint convincingly in the style of a young child takes great skill. Esther and me, the fairytale princess and prince – so sweet! After, we all celebrated Chinese New Year one week early with a fine family meal at Yi-Ban. Enter the Dragon…