Emma Talks about Demsteader Paintings

Emma talked with Vogue about the Mark Demsteader portrait series, how it came about, and which is her favorite. At this time, only one original is still listed as available.

Tell us about how you came across Mark’s work?
“I grew up in Oxford and used to walk past a gallery on my way home from school that sold his work. I would stop and look at his pieces, and try and figure out how he did them for hours. I’ve always followed his work.”

How did the collaboration come about?
“I went home to Oxford and saw his pieces again and realised I should really try and buy some of his work. I haven’t really bought any art yet, even though I love it. So I contacted Mark about buying a drawing as a present to myself for my 21st birthday. When I emailed him he asked if I would let him paint me, and that was how the exhibition came about. I was slightly hesitant at first, not because I didn’t want to work with Mark, but simply because I wasn’t sure if I was comfortable with an entire exhibition of pictures of me! But Mark said I could do it for a charity of my choice, and I really couldn’t pass up the chance to actually be in one of his paintings. I am so glad I did it.”

How long did you spend sitting for Mark?
“As it takes Mark several months to create the pieces, he finds it easier to work from photographs so I met him and a photographer for a day’s photo shoot in north London back in January. It was a really simple shoot with just a single light to cast shadows. We took lots of pictures in a variety of poses and Mark went away and selected 30 or so to turn into paintings.”

How does the process being painted compare to being photographed – like your Vogue cover shoot?
“Whilst I didn’t sit for Mark as such, it was a completely different photo shoot to anything I’ve ever done before. It was really low-key – I did my own makeup and just brought a selection of very simple dresses for the silhouette. Mark did the lighting. Quite different to my British Vogue cover shoot in 2010 which involved a huge team of professionals!”

What do you think of the finished works?
“I am thrilled with how they have come out; they are beautiful. Mark is so talented – I wish I had a fraction of his skill!”

Which is your favourite?
“It is very hard for me to choose a favourite as they are all beautiful. However I think my favourite is the oil painting in a yellow dress.”

Will you buy one?
“I absolutely would have bought one but Mark was very generous and actually gave me one of the paintings as a thank you. He gave me the oil painting I mentioned above.”

Tell us about the charity the sale will benefit.
“CAMFED works with girls in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Ghana and Tanzania. Without their efforts, millions of girls in these countries wouldn’t be able to go to school to get an education and to improve their and their family’s lives, and this is mainly due to poverty. Families in poorer rural areas in Africa simply can’t afford to buy books or pay school fees for all their children, so they have to make the difficult choice as to which of their children should receive an education. Girls are rarely chosen as traditionally it has always been perceived that boys had a better chance of getting a paid job after graduation. I’m lucky enough to live in a country that gives me an equal right to my schooling: I’ve never had to contend with the kind of prejudice and sexual discrimination women in these countries deal with every day. My education has been so empowering, and has given me such stability and independence, and the idea of giving other girls the opportunities I have been lucky enough to have makes me very happy. CAMFED works extremely hard to raise money to sponsor girls through primary school, secondary school, college and professional schools to give them the opportunities they might otherwise have missed. Not only does this allow girls in these areas to better achieve their potential academically and in their careers, it also improves their quality of life in other ways, through education about HIV for example. It is a sustainable and long term solution to some very difficult problems, and by supporting these young girls is able to make a huge difference. It is a fantastic charity and I hope to work with them further in the future.”

posted by dook on Thursday, June 30th, 2011, filed under Uncategorized.