Youths Ambition

It's a strange experience painting a scene on the approximation of a human skull. I'm usually so careful as to how I express the inner personality of my sitter through meticulous skin tone, facial features, dress and the other objects in the painting. This skull demanded that I change my way of thinking to express my concept on a three dimensional object instead of a three dimensional object on a flat surface.

I loved painting this skull, it was a challenge to take different landscapes and meld them together to form a cohesive whole. I love the work of Escher and I thought of his work while I was designing this skull.

With this image I thought of the fragility of both the landscape and the human body and how time wears on each. My partner once told me he did free climbing in his youth which made me dwell on how precious the body is and how in our youth we have very little fear of the consequences of our actions. Some of us chase adventure which brings us to the brink of death. The caverns and holes through the rock are symbolic of disaster averted and provide glimpses into the mind from the standpoint of age (represented by the crumbling rock face.) The vistas beyond speak of the dreams and bright memories of youth which seem to grow in intensity as we look back at them. These are all the things we did or wanted to do but most of all they represent the person our older selves wished we might have been.

What a great thrill to know that this piece was bought at auction today by one of Taranaki's most beloved artists.

#skull

Gorgeous Images

Last night I came across these two incredible Victorian photographs. I was instantly taken by both and drawn to them in some inexplicable way. I knew I had to paint these girls.

I adore photographs of Victorian children and wonder at their lives, interests and the people they eventually became in a world that was ever changing.

These two photographs are so different, both portraying a moment of childhood which could never again be reproduced. The left image, a cabinet card of a young English girl was designed to be reproduced and given out to friends and family. It shows a well posed young lady beautifully attired possibly framing a coming of age moment, maybe confirmation or first communion.

The tintype of two sisters is a much smaller personal image reproduced onto a metal support. This is a rather quick and clumsily executed photograph with modest props and a hastily painted scene in the background. I was taken by the feeling of recklessness that this photo seemed to emanate. These American children who's family may even have hired their outfits from the photographer possibly knew a very different kind of childhood than the young lady in the first image. There is something rough about them, something free in their stance and demeanor which made this image appeal to me.

St Rock

Christmas came early this year with my package of ICE18 collage exchange works. It is so interesting seeing how other people interpret the idea of collage and the statements they make with their works. I am absolutely in love with a tiny collage by artist Josie Beszant from Masham, North Yorkshire and her work 'St Rock' also made using a cabinet card.