A&I Winner

The winners of Artists & Illustrators Artist of the Year 2011 have been announced (title link). The overall winner is Raoof Haghighi with this most unusual portrait Roya. The face of this slender young woman is hidden and she appears to be trapped, barefoot, leaning against a wall and yearning for the exit. The psyche of the subject is painted, rather than her facial features. Powerful psychological stuff. I can't help feeling sorry for her. And yes, it is a painting, using traditional oil on canvas, despite its photographic realism.