Sunlit Eyes

In this portrait, a young woman raises her hands in a dynamic pose, simultaneously shielding herself from the sunlight and engaging the viewer with her delicately poised energy. Edward has composed the work to guide the viewer’s eye across the surface and ultimately toward the subject’s intriguing expression.

Edward incorporates a sense of photorealism in the figure, while deliberately breaking from strict realism in other areas. The background, loosely rendered in a palette inspired by Edgar Degas, contrasts with the clarity of the figure and suggests movement and atmosphere rather than a specific setting.

Edward was especially influenced by Lucian Freud’s exploration of anatomy and flesh — using thick, expressive brush and palette knife work to give the figure weight and texture. At the same time, the leopard-print dress is treated with a freer hand, where finer, jagged brushstrokes create rhythm and pattern, evoking spontaneity and fashion illustration influences. The result is a painting that balances control with improvisation, realism with stylisation, and personal presence with visual play.

Model: Jenny Umana