Presence

Presence came from a question I had while thinking back to my art studies: could I combine painting and clay?

Sculpture and clay were part of my studies at art school, and a few years ago I also took pottery classes here in London. I loved the tactile side of working with clay — but also the fact that you never quite know what is going to come out of it.

That feeling stayed with me when I started this piece. I wanted to create a strong male presence, but I didn't think I could capture that feeling through painting alone. Adding the raised clay profile gave me another way to build the figure and bring a different kind of depth to the work.

As I worked, the painting started to become a meeting point between different ways of making. Paint, clay, texture and the raised elements all became part of the same image. And, honestly, it came together much better than I expected — one of those occasions where the finished piece manages to surprise you in the best way.

What I like most about Presence now is that it reminds me why I enjoy experimenting. It shows how different processes and materials can come together to create something that wouldn't have happened if I had stuck to just one method.

I hope the piece catches your attention first through the figure, colours and composition, then makes you look a little closer at the materials and textures — and perhaps leaves you curious about how it was made.

Dimensions: 30 × 40 × 2 cm
Medium: Mixed media with air-dry clay on canvas
Signed: By Hoza