Unusually I began with an image in my mind that I wanted to represent. My Shadow, as it appeared to me in a dream. The Dream Shadow wore a longcoat or cloak and top hat. I began with the top hat.

As I understand it, The Shadow is the place where we deposit the aspects of ourselves we would rather not be conscious of. There are some who say The Shadow is an entity of itself who exists a posteriori, because there are aspects of ourselves that we deny, the a priori, to enable us to bury stuff. It can be The Fool or The Joker or The Devil but not The Trickster – that is a different facet/entity.

Top hat done I had the idea to use the masking tape like clay, tearing off small pieces and working on form. The process began to take over and the torn bits of tape began to control the form taking shape.

I grated compressed charcoal over it and spray fixed until liquid, painting with my fingers.

Removed tape.

Disliked the top hat.

Reworked the head.