painting people

The act of painting, drawing or sculpting, provides immediate gratification, somewhat like a child playing with mud: squish it around and see what happens!  The whole process stimulates the senses.  Textures, colours, shapes, marks so many things can be done.  Proceeding to manipulate, distort or even destroy the image.  Expressing ones immediate emotions, concerns or opinions, without having to consider another being.  Pure self-indulgence."

I do not start with a fixed concept in mind.  The concept evolves during the process of experimentation and development. A painting is often reworked and changed over an extended period. I prefer to articulate my thoughts visually rather than verbally. The process is an attempt at organizing and understanding information, exploring confusion and trying to resolve personal concerns. The paintings are a record or reflection of what I am exposed to in daily life, in the media and in society somewhat like a collage of thoughts, experience and process.  Mans perception of reality, the transience of life, belief in an afterlife, notions of good and evil, religion, power and gender are universal human issues which inform my interpretation. 

"The body of work here exhibited stems mainly from my involvement with running a life-drawing class from my home studio.  During the class I make sketches of the model.  These form a starting point from which a work may develop.  Once alone in my studio I manipulate and expand the initial image through a process of repeated application and subtraction. The plastic qualities of the medium, composition, contrast, surface tension and texture are all elements that are considered and explored. 

Born in 1955 in Johannesburg, South Africa. Studied graphic design at the Johannesburg College of Art and worked as a graphic designer for close on twenty years. Frustrated by the demands of clients, computers and commercialism, she started sculpting and painting. She has exhibited extensively and her work is represented in many collections.