Sophia 1993

Nelson Shanks painted ‘Sophia’ using oil on canvas, a dance between control and surrender! Look how he has fearlessly captured the planes of the face with delicate precision. I wonder about the relationship between Shanks and his model, Sophia? What was it like to stand nude in his studio? What did they talk about? The pose is simple but the composition is complex. Shanks sets Sophia against a backdrop filled with studio clutter, like paint cans, drapes, and another unfinished canvas. These elements seem to reflect the layers of the artist’s creative life. He uses them to build a world around Sophia. I love the way Shanks has placed a can of paint near Sophia's feet! It is almost as if to say, "Look! This is what I do. This is how I see."