PORTRAITURE, FACES & MASKS - I had read about Dianne Fossey and her work with the gorillas. They are such beautiful animals. I wanted to show them as gentle, warm creatures and not the stereotypical wild beast such as King Kong. I’ve also given this painting a maternal/ paternal quality. It has the same feeling as any Madonna and Child scene which reflects the love of a parent and child. I’ve kept the colours soft to add to the serenity and I’ve tried to create a misty atmosphere similar to a rainforest.