Bristol mugs

Portraits from police press releases. These 32 portraits are a follow-on to my ‘Somerset drug dealers‘ collection from 2017. What is it about these faces? They completely fascinate me. Some are defiant, some are defeated—but no one’s really posing. There’s something completely real about them. In the age of mugging for a profile picture, these have to be the polar opposite. (Drawn with Kyle brushes).

Somerset drug dealers

This image was based upon a real police handout showing convicted drug dealers in Somerset in the UK. The range of faces fascinated me.

It was also my first real attempt using the very-impressive Kyle brushes, which are the best digital brushes I’ve used. The ones that come with Photoshop are OK, but these are really pleasurable to use.

Bonnetje me?

‘Bonnetje me?’ sort of means ‘do you want a receipt?’ in Dutch. This picture celebrates that frozen supermarket moment (probably in a branch of Dirk van den Broek judging by the livery). I’m also slightly fascinated/horrified by people who do that funny thing of closing their eyes briefly when they talk. It’s an unconscious thing, and the people that do it don’t believe you when you tell them they do it.

This was painted directly into Photoshop using the various digital brush tools. Click it to look closer.