About this artwork

This painting explores the changing roles of family dynamics. Having grown up in a close family unit in Devon, one of four children, family has been an important part in Amelia’s life, one which she often explores in her portraits. For this painting, Amelia wanted to explore the changing relationship between herself and her eldest brother, a portrait about family, dynamics, growth and shifting roles.
In this painting, the mirror is used to offer the viewer another perspective, one which the artist has witnessed of her brother, on his journey into fatherhood.
The painting depicts the artists brother with his gaze averted to something outside the frame. Through the reflection of the mirror we can see what is taking his attention – his present and his future - his partner and his young daughter. Amelia has witnessed his brother take on this new role as father, from creating a home for him and his partner to bringing a new life into the world, a transition Amelia wanted to capture in paint.
Amelia has also used the gazes of the figures in the painting to include the viewer of the portrait to emphasize the unity between a family. The male figure looks on at his partner, his partner looks on at their daughter whom she is holding, the child looks straight at the viewer, completing the circle between artist, sitter and audience.
This portrait was painted using the traditional Zorn palette.