'The Ending'

graphite, pastel and gesso on paper

40cm x 50cm

'Silently, reluctantly,

Break free from tomorrow'

The contrasting layers of dark and light are less integrated and more apparent in this piece. It appears as if the white that masks the subject is dissolving away and revealing the person behind which I hope captures the sense of meaning in the line of the poem. When I'm working in this way, I have to build up quite a bit of courage at times in order to paint over what I might feel is an already successful drawing. I'm making the under drawings with as much consideration and resolve as I would if I wasn't intending to paint over them. I can't afford to 'skimp' on the preliminary drawing as it just wouldn't work. Sadly, I do have a failure or two along the way which just so's you know, go straight in the bin...!  :) 

'The Secret'

graphite, pastel and gesso on paper

65cm x 45cm

'I look across the space and see 

A whole new world that I could be

a part of...'

I've used the ancient symbolism of the rose in this piece. The rose has been used since ancient times to denote secrecy. In mythology Aphrodite gave a rose to her son Eros as a sign to keep her indiscretions hush hush! I've also attached to the drawing another line from my poem. 

'Facing the Truth'

80cm x 60cm

charcoal, pastel and gesso on paper

'And while I sit here wondering why, 

My time without a trace runs by, 

And I am left forgotten' 

I've used the above lines from the end of a poem to capture the feeling in this piece. The subject is taken from one of my much earlier series of drawings which I've always promised myself I would return to, to develop the drawings further...and now at long last I have! And I must say it's a very satisfying feeling to fulfil a promise!  The lines of poetry fit nicely with the image and add another dimension to the work. I attributed the lines after I'd made the drawing, so they have in a sense, become an extension of the work. 

By the way, in case you were wondering...the lines are not appropriated, they are taken from one of my own poems...so no ensuing copyright issues on the horizon! :)

New Work

'Travelling Alone'

Charcoal, pastel and gesso on scored paper

65cm x 45cm

I've used quite alot of gesso in this latest piece which has resulted in the female figure in the drawing seeming as if she were transmuting into sculptural form. The ambiguity of this I like, and brings me closer to where I want to be with my work. And where is that I hear you asking...if only I knew is my answer to that!! But that's what makes creating art exciting...it's never quite knowing where the creative process will take you and at which destination the work will eventually arrive!

'The Birth of Ophelia'

'The Birth of Ophelia'

60cm x 1200cm (24" x 48")

gesso, charcoal and pastel on board 

This last piece, which I am pleased to tell you is now complete... :) has been influenced by Sir John Everett Millais' 'Ophelia'. The painting by Millais depicts a scene from Shakespeare's Hamlet in which Ophelia's father is murdered by her lover Hamlet and as a result Ophelia drowns herself in a stream. My Ophelia on the other hand, is in the process of rebirth! She represents the feminine and creative aspects of water in the way that for aeons water has been equated with the feminine aspects of creation and nature. There is a common and recurring image in many cultures, that of the Goddess emerging from the water. So here, my Ophelia is emerging from the water only to be reborn as a Goddess..don't you just prefer happy endings!...:)

'Joan'

'Joan'

120cm x 60cm

charcoal, pastel and paint on board

Meet Jeanne d'Arc or as we know her Joan of Arc! She is also known as the Maid of Orleans and represents here the archetype of 'heroine' or 'woman devoted to a noble cause'. History states that Joan denied her femininity in order to fit in with the 'boys' on the battle field There are other 'heroines' in history whose story is similar, (Camilla for one, who fought in Italy against the Trojan hero Aeneus ) which might lead you to the conclusion that heroism is a male prerogative. Now we can't have that can we!  In my version she is portrayed as a strong, determined but nonetheless very feminine woman. She wears part of her coat of arms (a lily) on a pendant around her neck symbolising her devotion to duty and her willing sacrifice to the belief that she was to be emancipator of France. 

This piece will be part of the show in September. I have just one more piece still to make to complete the body of work for the show...nearly there!

'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 :)

'Healing Fibres' - Exhibition in Worcester, Massachusetts

45cm x 50cm

mixed media on paper

I've reworked this piece for an exciting new exhibition 'Healing Fibres' organised in Worcester, Massachusetts by fibre artist Bayda Asbridge. The exhibition is an annual event to raise awareness and discussion about political, environmental, gender, racial, medical, human rights and other societal issues. The theme for this year is violence against women. This image is to be one of my pieces. I have included threads in the drawing and placed a layer of slashed and distressed netting in front of the image to act as a veil. Both of my pieces will be 'veiled'. I should have the other piece ready to post tomorrow.