Photograph by Murray Hall. Collaborative art by Deborah Bonar. Portrait subject, Shaniquoa Elrington, Belize.

The story

The subject is an attractive woman from Belize, with a mass of dark curls. I can see her as a woman of passion, vibrant and joyful, dancing in a carnival.

I have used acrylics to paint an explosion of fireworks in her hair.

Photograph by Murray Hall. Collaborative art by Deborah Bonar. Portrait subject, Jacob Emmanuel, St Lucia.

The story

People of many cultures paint their faces and their bodies. This may be for hunting, ceremonial or religious reasons, to make themselves attractive, or as warriors preparing for battle.

Tribal people use face painting to transform themselves for rituals, to show their status, to camouflage themselves for hunting, or to scare their enemies. They often used natural earth pigments, along with plant dyes, for face and body painting.

The subject of this photograph is a man from Saint Lucia in the Caribbean. It is a close-up shot, with his eyes being the only features shown.

I have used the four Aboriginal ochre colours, black, white, yellow and red on this canvas, because these are the traditional base colours used in my culture. I have used a minimalist approach, because so little of the subject's face is on view. I have given him a red headband with very simple circular motifs.

Photograph by Andrew Miller. Collaborative art by Deborah Bonar. Portrait subject, Dorothy Lawrance, Solomon Islands.

The story

I followed the contours of her profile to mark out sections of the canvas to paint. I mixed soft-toned ochres in pinks and other pastel shades to give a sense of delicacy. I painted striated bands of colour and embellished them with several strands of white dots, echoing the white dots on the stamen of the hibiscus flower.

I used the shape of the earring to symbolise a coolamon, which is painted with floral motifs.

Photograph by Andrew Miller. Collaborative art by Deborah Bonar. Portrait subject, Marcelline Newitt, Vanuatu.

The story

The subject on this canvas is a lady from Vanuatu. There is a sense of mystery about her. She appears to be deep in thought. She seems slightly worried, or perhaps she is longing for something? Maybe she is thinking of home?

When I was arranging the composition for this artwork, I looked at the contrast between the light and the shade on the photographic image. I had to work out where to apply the paint.

I like to paint in vibrant acrylics, but I didn't want to overpower the image. I experimented with different colour combinations until I achieved the effect I wanted. I selected the negative space to the left side of the canvas to design the dominant artwork. I used the shadows and the silhouettes on the right side of the canvas to incorporate images of falling leaves, which I painted with natural earthy tones.

The overall effect I was trying to achieve was to show the subject standing at a curtained window, with leaves falling outside. Although she is looking out, she isn't seeing the view, she is focused inwards, on her memories.