Considering the icon

I have started working on a series of oversized portraits They measure almost 2m in height and once again I am working on paper. In doing the series, I am exploring the how people can become iconic in the portrayel of them. by over sizing the images, already they take on an overwhelming prsence, but also in the hyper realistic technique used to paint them, they become almost super human. We recognise them as being people we interact with on a daily basis, but the become bigger and almost Messiah like.
I have long been amazed by the work of Gottfried Helnwein and the huge hyper-realistic paintings he does, especially of children.The impact the size of the work has on the viewer,(besides his astounding technique he renders the works with) pushes the images to become iconic. Recently I stumbled apon his daughters' work - Mercedes Helnwein, and was equally blown away by her oil pastel drawings.
At present I am working on a portrait of Franklin Mlilo. He hails from Zimbabwe  and has been working in Capetown for a couple of years, but it taking off for New York next year where I am sure he will do brilliantly at whatever he ends up doing there.
I will post more images as I progress.