Sandy Robert Nairne

1 portrait

© Chuck Close/ National Portrait Gallery, London

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Sandy Robert Nairne

by Chuck Close
archival watercolour pigment print on Hahnemuhle rag paper, 2015
74 5/8 in. x 60 in. (1896 mm x 1523 mm) overall
Given by the artist, 2016
Primary Collection
NPG 7017

Sitterback to top

  • Sandy Robert Nairne (1953-), Former director of the National Portrait Gallery. Sitter in 5 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Chuck Close (1940-2021), Artist. Artist or producer of 1 portrait.

This portraitback to top

This work is a watercolour print based on a unique large format colour Polaroid photograph, which was taken in Chuck Close’s Manhattan studio in the early summer of 2015. The term 'watercolour print' refers to a recent technique developed by Close and Donald Farnsworth, Close’s main collaborator. To make the transition from photographic image to watercolour print, Close draws from a library of more than ten thousand unique, hand-painted, monochromatic marks. Most of the marks were painted by the artist specifically to be used as raw material for watercolour prints. In each print, the unique size and spacing of the grid and the interaction of the individual marks have been carefully chosen and manipulated in order to retain the characteristics of watercolour. To maximize clarity and detail, each print receives multiple passes, wet upon wet.

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