Claire McConaughy

My paintings examine the difficulty of seeing someone, seeing oneself, and being seen. The subjects are unaware of being watched and are dreamy, thoughtful, individual and self-sufficient. They are also sporty and strong while their feminine hair alludes to their imminent sexuality and power.

Unlike typical portraiture, the view is from the back leaving space for multiple interpretations. Each scene looks into itself and creates an inner life for the painting, therefore, the sitter's identity and thoughts become the result of the viewer's interpretation. Clothing and environment are often simple, but have motifs or colors that contribute to the narrative. A dominant element in the painting is the hair which is either tangled, knotted or silky and becomes a seductive element that creates psychological metaphors.

The actual making of the images is the result of tenacious observation and is developed over a long period of time.