In a bit of a portraity mood, lately, I've been flipping through the work of some of the great artists of the past, hoping their individual methods of dealing with subject and background would provide some inspiration. A figurative artist who I've always found both impressive and expressive, in a style all of his own, is Egon Schiele.

A controversial character from the the early 20th century, Schiele trained with Klimt in Vienna before earning gallery level recognition of his paintings and works. He caused a stir in the art world for his exploration of sexuality and was even briefly imprisoned, before dying at a young age of the Spanish flu. His large body of work in the figurative realm provides a glimpse into his emotional mind, with loose drippy brush strokes, twisted limbs and distorted figures and haunting self-portraits. Each portrait seems to capture a unique quality within the subject, while maintaining an open-minded treatment, helping to demonstrate the importance of painting not just what is seen, but also what is felt.