'Helen of Troy' Archetype of beauty or scapegoat?

40cm x 50cm 

charcoal, pastel and paint on board

Here is my version of a modern day Helen of Troy. Helen is a character that I find fascinating and who I tend to think has had a raw deal! Over the centuries she alone has had to shoulder the blame for the Trojan war having been arguably accused of being the sole reason for the battle. We know Helen was not squeaky clean but the accusation is just a little unfair as the Greeks and Trojans jumped at the chance to go in there and do battle with each other! They had their own political agendas, but they've been allowed to escape scot-free and haven't had to accept any responsibility!! So here is my homage to Helen as archetype of beauty yes, but also as long-suffering scapegoat who now deserves to be liberated :)

'Jo' finally finished!

12" x 16"

oil on stretched canvas

SOLD

I realised this afternoon when I looked again at portrait of 'Jo' that the angle of the mouth wasn't right and needed to be altered...and so she wasn't finished after all!! Repainting the mouth then led on to reworking the chin which led on to adjusting the side of the face and so on and so on and before I knew it the whole afternoon had gone!!! So here we are at the finishing post again, but I'm very happy with her now and she really is done this time I promise! And on that note I'd like to wish you all a very happy weekend! 

'Jackie' now complete!

12" x 16"

oil on stretched canvas

I'm very happy with 'Jackie' now that I have completed her. I've strengthened some of the dark values in the skin tones and changed some of the surrounding area to a cooler hue.  I dislike calling it the 'background' as that makes it sound less important and it's not! I like the way she is looking out of the canvas at the audience, as if she is scrutinising us as much as we her! 

Paintings with cherries!

'Jug with Lemons and Cherries'

12" x 16"

oil on stretched canvas

This afternoon I've been busy adding cherries to these three paintings! Have a look and see what you think. In the painting above 'Jug with Lemons and Cherries' I'm happy that the composition is now complete both in terms of space and of colour.  

'Green Apple with Jug'

6" x 6"

oil on  board

In 'Green Apple with Jug' the cherry becomes a compelling focal point. And along with the two red leaves, it creates a triangle in space which again leads to a stronger composition. 

'Delicious Biscotti'

8" x 8"

oil on board

Before I added the cherries to 'Delicious Biscotti',  the biscotti looked a little lonely and were crying out for something to sit next to them! However, now I'm glad to say, all is well, and again I feel the composition is complete. 

Bronze Pot with Apple and Plum

12" x 16"

oil on stretched canvas

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Yep...my brass pot is actually bronze! I discovered that when my husband saw the title of the painting and was horrified that I had described his beautiful bronze pot as brass!  So...there you are...you learn something new everyday!  
I did in the end return to the painting although I said I wasn't planning to. I added more colour to the area at the back which looked slightly unresolved and dull and I also revisited the 'bronze' pot. I am now done with it and the painting is finished.  

'Days after the Wedding'

'Days after the Wedding'

oil on stretched canvas

40cm x 30cm

SOLD

I haven't been able to blog for the last few days as I've been catching up on 'stuff'. You know the kind of thing...emails, paperwork, exhibition preparations, preparing for forthcoming classes etc, etc, etc, and...since being back from Spain, I've attended two weddings, one of which was my son Charlie's...and what a brilliant day it was!! We were fortunate enough to be able to bring home some of the wonderful flowers which of course after a few days slowly began to show signs of wilting...very sad (but at the same time interesting to paint!) So I decided it was time to paint some of them to keep alive the memory of the occasion before they faded away forever :( 

'Jug with lemons'

'Jug with Lemons'

oil on deep canvas

30cm x 40cm

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This painting has altered quite alot from when I first started it....for the better I hope! I changed the area at the back from dark to light, added a glass and painted out a coloured napkin. I finally brought it to a state of completion this afternoon!  The people who attend my classes will undoubtedly recognise the jug as it's a regular prop that I take in from time to time. So I thought it was about time I painted it myself! I think the painting has a summer feel which is appropriate as it seems summer has finally arrived!