Watch your thinking by Mikayla Boamah

Watch Your Thinking is a portrait of my father and the values that have shaped both his life and mine. I wanted to capture the sense of strength, stability and quiet confidence that I have always associated with him, as well as his love of sport and the role it has played in our family.

Painting him facing directly forward allowed me to emphasise his steady presence and calm nature. I also chose a limited colour palette to reinforce that feeling of groundedness and resilience.

While I was inspired by the expressive painting style of Australian artist Laura Jones, I wanted this portrait to reflect my own way of painting and, more importantly, my own perspective. For me, this work is about celebrating someone whose character has had a lasting influence on the person I am becoming.