Andrea Neal 1

original: approx 7" x 10" (18 cm x 25.5 cm) pencil on watercolour paper

original: $300

A4 print: $40

It was my great privilege to work with Andrea Neal just before she retired. I had been a huge fan of her work for many years, and it was an incredible feeling to be working with her. The funny thing was that when she walked into the studio from the street you'd probably not have looked at her twice. You might think "She's pretty" but I doubt you'd pick her out of a crowd.

Then she stood in front of the camera, and something sort of melted just behind her eyes. She turned her body a little and tilted her head just a touch and suddenly she was a supernova. I have never seen anything like it. A remarkable transformation, and one which was almost completely subconscious. That's why "natural" is the phrase photographers use to describe her. I now know just how inadequate those words are. I doubt I'll do any better, but here goes.

Cinematographers have a saying "Every frame a Rembrandt". Shooting Andrea was "Every frame a Venus de Milo". Most models strike a pose, wait for the shutter click, then strike another pose. Andrea just moved naturally and easily in front of the camera, not forced, not posed. Yet somehow, at every instant, her body was positioned in exactly the right position. I could press the shutter at any time, and each shot would have been perfect. I have never met anyone with that kind of total, natural grace before. Add to that her ability to convey the damsel-in-distress emotions and you're looking at the closest you're ever likely to get to perfection. It was a wonderful experience.

I hope you'll all join me in wishing Andrea all the best for her future.

We miss you.

Acknowledgments:

As well as my own images, some of the drawings are based, with kind permission, on reference photographs by:

FM concepts

Jim Martin of Bondage By Request

Jim Weathers of Bondage Cafe

Andrea Neal 2

original: approx A4 pencil on watercolour paper

Purchase original: $300

Purchase A4 print: $40

Andrea Neal 3

original: approx A4 pencil on watercolour paper

Purchase original: $300

Purchase A4 print: $40

Andrea Neal 4

original: approx A4 pencil on watercolour paper

Purchase original: $300

Purchase A4 print: $40

Andrea Neal 5

original: approx A4 pencil on watercolour paper

Purchase original: $300

Purchase A4 print: $40

Andrea Neal 6

original: approx 10" x 12" pencil on watercolour paper

Purchase original: $300

Purchase A4 print: $40

Andrea Neal 7

original: approx A4 coloured pencils on tinted paper

Purchase original: $400

Purchase A4 print: $40

Andrea Neal 8

original: approx A3 pencil on watercolour paper

Purchase original: $500

Purchase A4 print: $40

Purchase A3 print: $80

Andrea Neal 9

original: approx A4 pencil on watercolour paper

Purchase original: $300

Purchase A4 print: $40

Andrea Neal 10

original: approx A4 pencil on watercolour paper

Purchase original: $300

Purchase A4 print: $40

Andrea Neal 11

original: approx A3 pencil on watercolour paper

Purchase original: $500

Purchase A4 print: $40

Purchase A3 print: $80

Andrea Neal 12

original: approx A4 pencil on watercolour paper

Purchase original: $300

Purchase A4 print: $40

Andrea Neal 13

original: approx A3 pencil on watercolour paper

Purchase original: $500

Purchase A4 print: $40

Purchase A3 print: $80

Andrea Neal 14

original: approx A3 pencil on watercolour paper

original: SOLD

Purchase A4 print: $40

Purchase A3 print: $80

Andrea Neal 15

original: approx A3 pencil on watercolour paper

Purchase original: SOLD

Purchase A4 print: $40

Purchase A3 print: $80

Andrea Neal 16

original: approx A3 pencil on watercolour paper

Purchase original: $500

Purchase A4 print: $40

Purchase A3 print: $80

Andrea Neal 17

original: approx 10" x 12" pencil on watercolour paper

Purchase original: $400

Purchase A4 print: $40

Purchase A3 print: $80