Kate Vamp Blue

A friend who was putting together a film deal asked me, if I’d do a ‘sitting’ of his intended leading lady. Kate Orr, for publicity for a movie he was making about vampires. Hence the title KateVamp. Unfortunately, for my friend that is, Kate decided not to do the film, but fortunately for me, she became a good friend, and has always obliged me by sitting for me. She is the most extraordinary versatile model (and actress) and it’s always a joy to work with her. By coincidence, Kate played the daughter of my ex-wife Jan in a short film, but I hadn’t recognised her when my friend introduced me, possibly because in the film she had a shaven head. Incidentally, she looked sensational with her head shaved, which very few people can get away with. Most girls would look like relatives of the naughty Mitchell Brothers, of the soap ‘EastEnders’.

I wanted this portrait to have the feel of a ‘forties’ glamour shot, in the style of a Rita Hayworth type publicity photograph. With gorgeous Kate, very little re-touching is required, and I’d softened the picture by using Smart Blur in AdobePhotoshop. I then repainted the lips and eyes. After finishing the portrait I isolated the eyes into a mask, then ‘washed’ the face in blue and did the same for the hair, but in red.