I drew this portrait for my friend Efua’s 30th birthday. It was a bit of a departure from my usual style - I usually create characters from my own imagination, which tends to lead to more exaggerated expressions and facial features.

This time I wanted to create something a little more realistic, and to capture the essence of Efua - she is this effervescent person, a great storyteller and a quick wit. I wanted to express the warmth she exudes, so I worked from a photo I took of her during golden hour at Black Pride last year. The oranges and yellows really take me back to that moment.

I enjoyed layering the texture into this piece, and working out how to articulate her curls without overworking them. I’m pretty happy with the result!