Elf Portrait in Red Shirt 2006

Frank Mason made this oil painting, *Elf Portrait in Red Shirt*, sometime in his long career. The earthy palette is brought to life by that striking, cadmium red scarf; it's the emotional heart of the piece, really. Looking closely, the paint application is so gestural, almost frantic, especially around the face and hands. It’s not about smooth blending but about capturing the light and shadow with direct, visible strokes. You can almost feel Mason wrestling with the paint, pushing it around to find the form. That little glint of white in the left eye does so much work, bringing the whole thing together. It reminds me of some of Lucien Freud’s portraits, that same intensity and immediacy. Ultimately, it’s the energy of the process, the sheer physicality of the paint, that gives the portrait its raw, captivating presence. Painting, like life, is a conversation, a struggle, and an ongoing discovery.