Alex - thank-you for kicking me out of my complacency - you are so right, and I am essential so lazy and so reluctant to work the second figures because of the problems of each figure taking away from the others. I am not naturally a group figure painter, but I think this is because I haven't tried properly. You are such a master at group portraits and narratives! You have touched on a truth about my work - that my paintings seem more like studies rather than major paintings. I avoid making actual statements because I don't want to commit myself to an idea in case it isn't quite representative of my personality and self-image, but this is blocking me in getting to a new level. And I think I really would like to do a major piece on a theatrical theme with a real narrative and a number of legendary of classical theatrical figures doing different things - so do it, Thomasin!
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