James and I had been following each other for many years, both being painters, but only now, thanks to the “social” opportunities that we artists have created during the quarantine, have we had the chance to meet up through videoconference. James, who lives in Sydney, Australia, is also doing a quarantine project. He paints portraits in oil from selfies that people send to him, and they have the chance to purchase them quite affordably! “When I get their selfies, it’s interesting to see what they think of themselves through their photos.” He will keep doing these portraits while things are still difficult because of social distancing. His planned shows for the immediate future are now uncertain.

James is an Englishman from Rugby who found himself in Australia because of a love story with a local girl he met while backpacking for three months through India, Australia, and New Zealand, where he also went to play Cricket, a sport that he played professionally before. His passion was painting, and to support that dream, he did all kinds of part-time jobs, from postman, Uber driving, security in a hospital, etc...

After he finished his fine arts studies in Sydney, he couldn’t find any side-job. “Finally, I had no choice but to be a full-time artist!” And that’s what he does now! During quarantine, he is still free to drive the 10km distance to his studio and leave the domestic lockdown, while his girlfriend, a lawyer, is forced to stay at home unless she goes to pose for him in the studio…