I wanted to paint a picture that would highlight the hidden nature of child abuse. Victims often keep silent about what is happening to them, so life goes on in a seemingly normal way but under the surface damage is being done and no one else is aware.
Tricia Cottrell: Preparatory Sketch: (2014)
Media: Pencil on Paper
Dimensions: 9cm x 19cm
Location: Artists Sketchbook
Scanned Image (2015)
This is the preparatory sketch for my painting. I have included elements which remind me of my childhood home. The crucifix on the wall, a must have item for any good Catholic home. The painting of Jesus with three small children is a memory from my grandmother’s house. The cross stitch sampler is a reference to my mother’s sewing skills, and her love of making things, which I inherited and she encouraged. The ‘Home sweet Home’ sentiment signifies the feeling that home should be a place of love, comfort and safety.
I started by painting the walls.
Tricia Cottrell: Drawing for sketchbook: (2015)
Media: Graphite pencil, Coloured pencil
Dimensions: 5cm x 13cm
Location: Artists sketchbook
Scanned Image
I chose to paint them blue, for two reasons. Firstly, the colour blue often indicates sadness, such as the paintings made by Pablo Picasso, during his blue period. This followed the suicide of his friend Carlos Casagemus in Paris.
Pablo Picasso: Woman With Crossed Arms: (1901-1902)
Media: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 81.3 x 58.4 cm
Location: Private Collection of Christopher Burge
Image available at:
https://www.behance.net/gallery/9176723/After-Woman-with-Folded-Arms
Pablo Picasso: Camille Pissaro: (1880)
Media: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 64.2 x 80cm
Location: The Baltimore Museum of Art
Image available at:
http://nasher.duke.edu/matisse/mobile/art.html
The other reason I chose blue, was because it also reminds me of summer. When I think back to when I was a small child, I remember that time seemed to be measured by days of blue skies and warm sun.
The following images are by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet respectively.
Vincent Van Gogh: Almond Blossom: (1890)
Media: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 73.3 x 92.4cm
Location: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
Image available at:
http://www.vangoghgallery.com/painting/blossoming-almond-tree.html
Claude Monet: Blue Water Lilies: (1916-1919)
Media: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 200 x 200cm
Location: Musee d’Orsay, Paris
Image available at:
http://historylists.org/art/list-of-10-claude-monets-water-lilies.html
These images make me think of summer.
My next task was to paint the miniature paintings.
Tricia Cottrell: Suffer the Little Children: (2014)
Painting within: Loss of Innocence: (2014)
Media: Acrylic on Hardboard
Dimensions of Board:119.5cm x 63cm
Location: Artists Collection
Photograph: Tricia Cottrell: (2014)
I really enjoyed the process of painting in miniature, using small brushes and fine detail, but it took much longer to complete than I had anticipated.
TriciaCottrell: Home Sweet Home: (2014)
Painting within: Loss of Innocence: (2014)
Media: Acrylic on Hardboard
Dimensions of Board: 119.5cm x 63cm
Location: Artists Collection
Photograph: Tricia Cottrell: (2014)
When I first painted the sampler, Robin pointed out that I had put HOHE SWEET HOME instead of HOME SWEET HOME. I am somewhat embarrassed to say that I hadn’t even noticed. I quickly rectified my mistake.
Next, I painted the bedroom detail and the crucifix.
Tricia Cottrell: Loss of Innocence: (2014)
Media: Acrylic on Hardboard
Dimensions of Board: 119.5cm x 63cm
Location: Artists Collection
Photograph: Tricia Cottrell: (2014)
Tricia Cottrell: Crucifix (2014)
Painting within Loss of Innocence (2014
Media: Acrylic on Hardboard
Dimensions of Board: 119.5cm x 63cm
Photograph: Tricia Cottrell: (2014)
Close-up Detail
It felt very strange to me when I came to paint the crucifix, an icon which was such an integral part of my childhood years and one that I am so far removed from now. It stirred up a conflict of emotions and beliefs.
