Tessa Thonett
I’ve painted portraits since I can remember – well before art school. People’s faces fascinate me more and more – I’m never happier than when interpreting what I see onto the canvas! I’m a portrait painter who paints with oils on canvas and uses both brushes and palette knives to bring about the results I want.
My main aim is to find and show the spirit of my sitter – to not only get an external likeness, but to show more of who they are as a person. To capture a likeness of course is essential, but not a photographic likeness – you might as well just keep the photo!
Here is a recent example – Glenn is an incredibly warm hearted man, well known here in Hastings area for ‘Glennstonbury’, a mini festival that he puts on each year. Sadly he cut his hair immediately after I painted him!
Faces, faces, faces! I really enjoy people's faces, always have, and particularly the eyes. And what really fascinates me are the nuances and differing spirits that shine through the different characters of those I paint.
Explore My Work
Grace & Grit
My ‘Grace N’ Grit’ series is an Imaginary Portrait Series Honouring the Balance of Strength and Sensitivity within women. My Grace n’ Grit women do not shrink. They stand – raw, resplendent, feeling everything, incomplete – yet definitely enough!
Portraits
I often paint people I meet, simply for the love of it. Each face holds a spark of story, a balance of strength and softness. My portraits do not chase perfection. They aim to capture presence, that fleeting glimpse of truth that lingers long after the gaze.
Prints
Each print is a faithful copy of my original work, created to share the spirit of brush, colour, and story beyond the canvas. Prints allow the essence of the painting to travel—an accessible way to bring art into daily life while staying true to the original.
Commissioned Portraits
A commissioned painting is a chance to see your story in colour and brushstroke. Together we shape a piece that is deeply personal, whether it celebrates a moment, a loved one, or simply you. A commission is not just art on the wall, it is art of your life.
Earlier Work
My earlier works include pieces that have found new homes, alongside paintings created in different formats and styles. Though no longer available, they remain part of my story, showing the varied paths and experiments that continue to shape my practice.