I am working on the theme of motherhood. Looking at the emotion and bonds that connects a woman and a child. At the beginning of the year, I made a few pieces of work on the subject. I started looking through old family photos for inspiration. My paintings are not exact reproductions of the original photos. When I make a painting using a photographic reference, I like to add subtle changes. Colour and adding or removing things from a scene can dramatically change the narrative and the emotional context can be intensified.
These two paintings were made at the start of the year. I think my painting style has changed over the last few weeks but we will see as I post things.
Detail of acrylic painting.
Finished work.
Working using photographic reference. The painting is on a wooden board in acrylic. Size – 18cm (H) x 12.5 (W).
Street Spirits is a group exhibition I have been making work for. I have been looking at women and protest. My source material has been from online sights and newspapers. I decided I wanted the focus of my paintings to be completely on the female, so I have removed or given a slight indication of the larger scene which had other protesters, police officers with batons and guns.
I mostly work in ink but I decided when this project which started in January, I would like to try oils as well as ink. When I first used oils it was uncomfortable experience, the paint wasn’t doing what I wanted. I couldn’t find the flow which I have with ink. I don’t know how many half painted canvases I have in my studio ! But I’ve been persevering and experimenting with different solvents to change the fluidity of the paint. My final paintings may have something of what I’m trying to capture – feminity as strength.
The dissapeared [ink on paper]
Gasping for breath [oil on canvas]
Serenity [oil on canvas]
I am very pleased to have a painting selected for the DanceEast spring exhibition in Ipswich. The show is curated by Pop My Mind artist Sarah Mallet. Artists were asked to respond to the themes ‘Union’, ‘New Life’ and ‘Beautiful’ on the Pop My Mind online hub. Baby on a Blue Blanket is a painting I created in response to the artist call out.
Baby on a Blue Blanket (acrylic on wood)
The painting is of my own new born child. I have tried to capture is the vulnerability and beauty of an infant. The blue blanket surrounds the baby. It is a symbol of motherhood, protection and the bond between a mother and her child. This theme of motherhood is something I will be looking at in future blogposts.
The exhibition opens in the Whistler Gallery inside the Jerwood DanceHouse, Ipswich on Tuesday 1st of May until Sunday 20th May.
I haven’t blogged in ages but in my silence I have very busy. I now have a studio at Waterfront Studios which is based at the University of Suffolk. Actually, here is an interview I did recently with Pop My Mind to get you up to date with what’s been happening. You can read it here.
