The shape of us
11th March - 5th May
Women depicting women.
Celebrating with joy women's bodies in all their different shapes and sizes.
Artists are: Karen Turner, Kate Moores, Drusilla Cole and Josie Beszant
Women depicting women.
Celebrating with joy women's bodies in all their different shapes and sizes.
Artists are: Karen Turner, Kate Moores, Drusilla Cole and Josie Beszant
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Karen turner
Karen says "A figure and portrait artist, my paintings concentrate on women and are a commentary on the weight of expectations placed on the female sex. With a particular focus on the physical body and the scrutiny to which is it commonly subjected, my paintings explore what society expects of a woman, the ways in which her physical shape is often considered to define her, and the impact that this has on her life and sense of self.
Sometimes my figures are close cropped to represent the direct scrutiny a woman’s body is regularly placed under, judged not only on its ability to look pleasing, but also on its ability to live up to expectations around reproduction and motherhood.
A common theme in my work is absence. In some cases parts of a figure will bleed away to nothing, and in almost all she will be depicted devoid of surroundings as a representation of the way in which the bodies of so many women are judged without context.
Working in oils I build my subject with thin layers, shade over shade, colour over colour. I aim to keep each layer barely perceptible, each one contributing to the whole in ways that can’t always be seen. Colour is crucial as I seek to highlight pigments in the skin that can often go unnoticed, emphasising and sometimes exaggerating them in order that I might accentuate their beauty."
Sometimes my figures are close cropped to represent the direct scrutiny a woman’s body is regularly placed under, judged not only on its ability to look pleasing, but also on its ability to live up to expectations around reproduction and motherhood.
A common theme in my work is absence. In some cases parts of a figure will bleed away to nothing, and in almost all she will be depicted devoid of surroundings as a representation of the way in which the bodies of so many women are judged without context.
Working in oils I build my subject with thin layers, shade over shade, colour over colour. I aim to keep each layer barely perceptible, each one contributing to the whole in ways that can’t always be seen. Colour is crucial as I seek to highlight pigments in the skin that can often go unnoticed, emphasising and sometimes exaggerating them in order that I might accentuate their beauty."
Kate Moores
Painting the Nude makes Kate notice not only the beauty in every body, also the fragility and strength, the calm and torrent of emotions. Her art is fluid, energetic and uses colour to express her connection to the Nude and all she sees in them.
Based in West Tanfield, North Yorkshire, Kate works mainly in ink, charcoal and soft pastels. She specialises in Body Love Portrait commissions, using Art to increase your own body positivity.
Drusilla Cole
Drusilla says "My current body of work started with a vivid dream I had about a group of people laughing and splashing in the sea. I was so taken with the dream that I endeavoured your recapture some of the spirit of it via my Linocut print artwork. I was brought up by the sea and have many memories of the water and have tried to bring those recollections into my depictions. The ladies became rounder and more generous in proportion as my artwork progressed, more realistic perhaps? I’ve found the process very enjoyable with each print telling a small story, one which hopefully resonates with the viewers. "
Josie Beszant
Josie's work for this exhibition has centred on the idea of the woman as Goddess. Each piece is based on the elements - fire, earth, air and water and contains complex collage and assemblage arrangements based on our connection to nature and the elements. Each circular piece is based on the concept of a mandala - Carl Jung believed that the mandala represents the Self and that drawing a mandala gives a person a sacred space to meet that Self.
Fire Goddess
£345.00
An intricate collage with 2 and 3 dimensional objects mounted on plywood and an pdf base. Covered with a perspex dome the entire piece measures 40cm diameter.
