TERESA RODRIGUES

I expose vulnerabilities in the portraits I paint in an unapologetic, mischievous way. My marks are spontaneous, expressive and simple; my colour scheme unnatural, bold; and the shapes I use are basic, a contrast to the complex emotional competencies... As I build up the layers in my work, I purposefully allow the background to come through in parts of the painting representing the idea that we are products of our environment. At a foundational level, it is about revealing who we are as individuals... A fascination with behavioral sciences drives my work. A brief encounter with an individual is provoking; whether he/she is wearing a particularly unique article of clothing or even witnessing a child (or adult for that matter) having a temper tantrum. Anything that elicits a feeling of raw emotion is exhilarating in itself. As a Cancerian woman, I am moody, empathetic and emotive. As a result, I am able to develop a connection and gain a better understanding of the subjects I depict in..