'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 :)

Nox

40cm x 30cm

charcoal on scored, creased and cut paper

I wasn't sure this drawing would be successful in mosaic form but I have to say I'm pleased with the outcome. I believe it has worked in a way that gives the piece an enigmatic quality...it gives the illusion that the subject has been carved into the surface of stone? There are potentially still three more strips for the right hand side of the drawing, if I decide to add them. I'll be starting a large piece on Thursday...!

Remains of a mosaic

30cm x 40cm

coloured charcoal on scored and cut paper

This piece is now finished. Whilst making it, the subject began to take on a different identity from my original plan for her (Nox, goddess of night). As I worked I came to relate the character to Dido from the story of 'Dido and Aeneas'. This tale can be found in Virgil's 'Aeneid'. Dido, Queen of Carthage, despairs over her love for the Trojan hero, Aeneas, after he abandons her. Not very cheery I know, but full of irresistible drama and passion! The drawing below is the one I have in mind to use for Nox. I'm not a hundred percent sure that this drawing will work as a mosaic piece as there's not alot of tonal contrast present, but at the same time it could be interesting because of that. So...there's only one way to find out...an that's to cut it up and see!! 

Juno

charcoal and pastel on scored and cut paper

30cm x 40cm

As promised in yesterday's post, here is the piece that I have most recently finished. I'm continuing to work with the idea of mosaic remains and the de-construction and re-construction of my drawings. It's an interesting process and I am getting quicker at making the pieces, so...I believe It's time to go larger!

Epona - Celtic/Roman Goddess

charcoal on scored and cut paper

30cm x 40cm

It's been over two weeks since my last post as I'm in the throws of moving house and am up to my eyes in packing boxes! But in between juggling time and boxes I've somehow managed to put together another piece for my show! My aim in these recent pieces is to create a series of images that embody the essence of the gods or goddesses but that depicts them in a form that reflects human mortality. This piece portrays Epona. Epona (also known as Rhiannon) was a Celtic goddess whom the Romans adopted as their own. She was the goddess of horses and of fertility.

This might have to be my last post for a while as moving day is next Monday from which time I will be offline and won't be back on until the 12th November :( Will get back to you then :) 

Untitled finished drawing

This is the most successful mosaic drawing that I've made so far. I've experimented with surface texture by using a combination of mosaic pieces and charcoal applied directly onto the paper surface. I'm satisfied and excited by the outcome and can't wait to get on with the next piece which is a good feeling after, if you recall, the disaster of the last one!! 

My finished frames

Today I've been finishing the frames for two of the pieces going into the show 'Borrowed Blue' at Sam scorer Gallery, Lincoln on Monday. I ordered the frame pieces and accessories from Ashcraft Framing and put them together myself. It was simple and straightforward...brilliant! 

'Girl in Blue Jumper'

40cm x 30cm

oil on stretched canvas

I've been working on this piece this afternoon, getting it ready to put in 'Borrowed Blue' at Sam Scorer Gallery in Lincoln. It's an interesting show to take part in because the requirements for the show are as follows: four pieces in total from each artist - one has to be an older piece, one a new work, one borrowed from someone else and one containing a blue element. I couldn't resist when I was invited to participate! The painting above is my 'blue' piece and the drawing in the painting that you can see on the wall on the right of the girl will be my 'borrowed' piece. It's a charcoal drawing by a friend and artist Rosie Burke. I love the drawing and was delighted when Rosie agreed to hang it in the exhibition!

'Borrowed Blue' 

Sam Scorer Gallery

Drury Lane 

Lincoln

2nd September - 15th September  

All those who can get along to the 'invitation do' on Sunday 8th September 2.00pm - 4.00pm are very welcome. Please come if you can. There will be yummy tubs of ice cream (dairy and non-dairy) and lots of soft drinks too. Should be a fun afternoon! :) 

'Girl in Blue Jumper'

'Girl in Blue Jumper'

40cm x 30cm

oil on stretched canvas

I gave this painting a burnt orange ground which has given the work a lovely rich glow. I completed the painting in a relatively short time this afternoon and I find that a coloured ground works well when you need to work quickly. If some of the ground colour is left showing through the top layers of paint, it pulls the painting together nicely. 

'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. 

In the Afternoon Sun

'In the Afternoon Sun'

5" x 7"

oil on board

NFS

My apologies for not being very communicative lately, but you know how it is...sometimes you seem to take one step forward and 6 back! Last week was one of those times and less said about it the better!

This little painting was made from an image taken with my phone camera. I took the photo last summer during our visit to the Bio-Park in Valencia. It was an extremely hot day (43C) and I was properly wilting at this point! Whereas Chloe (in the painting) was still as bright as a button and totally unfazed by the whole heat thing!  Ohhh to be young!! 

Bronze Pot with Apple and Plum

12" x 16"

oil on stretched canvas

Click to buy

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.  

Brass Pot, Apple and Plum

'Brass Pot, Apple and Plum'

oil on stretched canvas

30cm x 40cm

   Stage 1

Stage 2

This painting was an interesting one to make as the surrounding area is much darker in tonal value than my other recent paintings. I like the rich red of the apple against the purple and blue and I also like the similarity in hue of the plum on the purple cloth. I began the painting yesterday and spent about two hours working on it (I had to stop when I ran out of light).Today I spent about another two hours on it and arrived at stage two. I'm not planning on a stage 3 but will look again in about 48 hours to see if anything jumps out and hits me in the eye! It was a much slower process today as I was employing a more 'careful approach'. I tried to be economical with brushstrokes but at the same time retain some of the spontaneity and freshness in the brushwork. 

'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

Click here to bid

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!