Park Portraits
- Reuben Bryant
- 3 days ago
- 1 min read
Updated: 20 hours ago
Williamson Park, Lancaster
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working on a project called Park Portraits in Williamson Park — offering free portraits to local people, right in the park.
What started as a simple idea has quickly turned into something much bigger. The project was recently featured in the Lancaster Guardian, and all available slots for March 2026 were fully booked. The response has been incredible.
Each sitting begins with a quick warm-up sketch, followed by a more focused oil pastel portrait — all completed in around 40 minutes.
“This has been a real adventure having to produce a portrait in about 40 minutes.”
"Working at that pace has changed the way I draw. There’s no time to overthink — just to respond, stay present, and trust the process".
What’s stood out most, though, is the people.
“I am blown away by the response and local people’s interest in art!”
There’s something powerful about sitting down with someone, even briefly, and really looking. These portraits aren’t just about likeness — they’re about capturing a moment, a feeling, something honest.
Park Portraits has become more than practice. It’s a growing collection of faces from Lancaster — a small record of the people who make up the place.
More sessions will be announced soon.
— Reuben
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