Haemon, 2020, oil, acrylic, gouache on canvas, 1.5 m x 1 m
Ismene, 2020, acrylic, gouache and oil on canvas, 2.2 m x 1.5 m
My work is inspired by Renaissance period paintings depicting Greek mythology. I am currently focusing on The Odyssey by Homer. The Renaissance paintings represent the drama within these stories, with dynamic compositions and rich colours. I use a range of different paintings depicting the myth to create a collage on Photoshop, breaking down the classical structure and the figuration; creating contrasts between scale, composition, figuration and abstraction. From them, I create large-scale paintings constructed in layers using a variety of mediums; oil, gouache and acrylic.
Jocasta, 2020, oil, acrylic, gouache on canvas, 1.5 m x 1 m
Laius, 2020, oil, acrylic, gouache on canvas, 1.5 m x 1 m
The paintings start with a layer of gouache, blocking in colour and mapping out movement. Then acrylic paint is used for the floral patterns to intensify the placement of colours and black/grey structural lines breaking through the work. For some time now, I have been developing the use of organic floral forms to apply a different painting language when recreating these classical paintings. I am interested in breaking down the barriers between the decorative and the fine arts. So, rather than purely decorative, I see the floral and feminine forms as a different language of abstraction. In this layer, the acrylic is built up and overlaps with changes in scale to create depth. In the final layer oil paint is used, which is applied in glazes to push back areas and for the floral patterning. The oils create a unique, opaque effect as they sit on the surface.
Eteocles, 2020, oil on canvas, 1.21 m x 0.91 m
Thebes, 2020, watercolour and gouache on A1 Somerset Rough Paper
Antigone and Ismene, 2020, installation view
Haemon, 2020, oil, acrylic, gouache on canvas, 1.5 m x 1 m
Ismene, 2020, acrylic, gouache and oil on canvas, 2.2 m x 1.5 m
My work is inspired by Renaissance period paintings depicting Greek mythology. I am currently focusing on The Odyssey by Homer. The Renaissance paintings represent the drama within these stories, with dynamic compositions and rich colours. I use a range of different paintings depicting the myth to create a collage on Photoshop, breaking down the classical structure and the figuration; creating contrasts between scale, composition, figuration and abstraction. From them, I create large-scale paintings constructed in layers using a variety of mediums; oil, gouache and acrylic.
Jocasta, 2020, oil, acrylic, gouache on canvas, 1.5 m x 1 m
Laius, 2020, oil, acrylic, gouache on canvas, 1.5 m x 1 m
The paintings start with a layer of gouache, blocking in colour and mapping out movement. Then acrylic paint is used for the floral patterns to intensify the placement of colours and black/grey structural lines breaking through the work. For some time now, I have been developing the use of organic floral forms to apply a different painting language when recreating these classical paintings. I am interested in breaking down the barriers between the decorative and the fine arts. So, rather than purely decorative, I see the floral and feminine forms as a different language of abstraction. In this layer, the acrylic is built up and overlaps with changes in scale to create depth. In the final layer oil paint is used, which is applied in glazes to push back areas and for the floral patterning. The oils create a unique, opaque effect as they sit on the surface.
Eteocles, 2020, oil on canvas, 1.21 m x 0.91 m
Thebes, 2020, watercolour and gouache on A1 Somerset Rough Paper
Antigone and Ismene, 2020, installation view