I want to make art which can communicate our present to future generations, as the Old Masters communicate their time to us. All my artistic investigations return me to the body: its beauty, ugliness, vulnerability and strength. Alongside exploring this, I aspire to paint great portraits which capture not only a likeness, but a presence. I want my art to be visually arresting, technically exemplary, intellectually articulate, and emotionally stimulating. The revival of realist art training has allowed me to pursue these goals.
When I joined LARA, I thought I would learn techniques to apply to my ideas. But something more daunting and exciting happened. I realised that the technical elements to which they introduced me (anatomy, values, colour, unity, variety…) are not finite skills to attain, but life-long explorations. Reassuringly, beauty is not easily bottled.
Being still a student, I have submitted only my atelier work, but am ambitious to apply this technique to concepts which preoccupy me. Studying Art History at university helped me see the art of the past as a living part of our world. I hope my practice will develop a conversation between the great traditions of the past and the pressing needs of the present. I am particularly interested in religious subjects and the politics of depicting female bodies. With your help I can continue to discover in practice what it means to make traditional, skill-based art in the present day.
