UNDERSTANDING IDENTITY

100 Portraits in 100 Days

Several years ago Sorrel’s daughter Ruby asked her mum why she never drew portraits. Sorrel’s response: "Because I can't." Needless to say, Ruby then questioned how she knew she couldn't draw portraits if she'd never even tried! To cut a long story short, this led to a deeply reflective period in Sorrel’s life where she revisited - in an artistic sense -  many of the people she had had the privilege to meet on her travels; sages, saints, nomads, kings, queens and tribesmen and women the world over. Sorrel documented her progress daily on social media, sharing poignant memories in an effort to further celebrate each individual and their culture.

Here’s a small selection of her drawings from that project, which was proudly sponsored by Canson paper and Schminke pastels.

An art gallery or studio with a woman standing between two large portrait paintings of children wearing traditional attire. Different artwork styles display expressive faces and vibrant colors.
Close-up of a young child with a shaved head, wearing a red robe, holding onto an adult's hand.
A colorful digital illustration of a woman with dark curly hair, wearing a large hat decorated with a train, and a green collar, smiling with gold teeth.
A vibrant portrait of an Elderly woman with traditional Maasai jewelry, including beaded earrings and necklaces, and dressed in blue attire against an orange background.
A colorful portrait painting of an elderly woman with traditional jewelry and a smiling expression.
A painting of a woman with dark braided hair smiling and hugging a child with short, wavy hair, wearing a white feathery garment, against a neutral background.
Portrait of an elderly woman with gray hair, a warm smile, and wearing a necklace and earrings.
Painting of a man with a white beard and mustache, wearing a white beanie hat. His face has a reddish-brown skin tone with detailed features and piercing eyes.
Colorful portrait of an elderly man with glasses, gray hair, a beard, and wearing a black cap, against a plain background.
Painting of a smiling person wearing traditional Indonesian attire, including a headdress with a black braided bun, and decorative accessories.
A detailed painting of an elderly Asian man with a bright smile, wearing an orange garment, standing in front of ornate carved wooden furniture with traditional decorative patterns.
Colorful portrait of an elderly man with a tan turban, gray beard, and expressive eyes, wearing a dark shirt.
Colorful portrait of two smiling young girls with bright blue eyes, one wearing a gray shirt and the other wearing an orange top, against a plain background.
Portrait of an elderly Asian man with short gray hair, a gray beard, and a mustache, wearing traditional clothing.
Close-up of a person's hands pressing on their stomach area, highlighting skin texture and veins.
Portrait of a person in traditional tribal makeup and attire, wearing a large, colorful feathered headdress decorated with yellow flowers and feathers, with face painted in yellow and red patterns, and wearing multiple red necklaces.
A traditional portrait of a woman with green face paint, elaborate jewelry, and an ornate headdress with red, gold, and green elements, likely representing a cultural or ceremonial costume.
Painting of an elderly woman with primitive facial features, dark hair with gray streaks, wearing gold hoop earrings. Her face has deep wrinkles and black marks, with exaggerated facial features including bulging nostrils and a wide, crooked smile.
A portrait of an elderly man with light skin, deep wrinkles, blue eyes, a white mustache, and a big smile showing gaps in his teeth. He is wearing a colorful patterned cap and a white shirt.
Close-up portrait of an elderly indigenous woman smiling, wearing traditional jewelry, a white headband, and a brown fur garment, with a large feathered headdress.
A realistic portrait of a young boy with brown eyes and a shaved head wearing an orange shirt, set against a sketch of traditional Asian dancers in the background.
A painted portrait of a smiling man with gray facial hair, large glasses, missing upper teeth, and wearing a blue hat.
A colorful portrait of a person with a painted face, blue beard, and traditional attire, wearing a headdress decorated with feathers, a bird, and a large butterfly.
Colorful painting of a woman with traditional attire, jewelry, and a bright smile.
Portrait of an elderly man with a blue and white beard, wearing a bright orange turban, saluting with his right hand, dressed in a white shirt against a grey background.
A colorful portrait of a smiling person with short black hair, wearing a large, fluffy, orange-blonde hat, earrings, and a red outfit.
Colorful portrait of an elderly man with a bright smile, gray hair, and wearing a red robe. The background features stylized Chinese characters in gold on a black background.
Painting of two young children with dark curly hair and brown skin, wrapped in colorful blankets, against a warm orange background.
Photograph of two young boys smiling and showing their teeth, with the boy on the left having a big grin and the boy on the right smiling warmly, dressed in a blue checked shirt and a brown jacket, against a plain brown background.