WORKS

( In Order Shown )

Portrait I, Biro on paper, 24 × 30 cm, 2024. Not Available

‍Portrait II, Biro on paper, 24 × 30 cm, 2024. Not Available

‍Ink Portraits is a collection of figurative drawings produced entirely in ballpoint pen, focusing on close-up portraits and quiet introspection. Working from photographic references, the series captures subdued expressions, with lowered gazes and closed eyes creating a sense of stillness and inwardness.

The limitations of ballpoint pen become central to the process, with depth, texture and form constructed through the gradual layering of fine marks. Dense areas of ink are built up against lighter passages to recreate subtle shifts in light and shadow, giving the portraits a highly detailed, almost photographic quality. The monochromatic nature of the medium places particular emphasis on facial structure and expression, while the close compositions create an intimate relationship between the subject and viewer.

The series also represents an early exploration of the precise, photographic approach that has continued to develop throughout Ainslie’s practice, particularly through her interest in realism, tonal detail and the translation of photographic imagery into carefully constructed artworks.