Devorah

In this mixed media portrait painting, I have used charcoal with acrylic paint in fluorescent colours, resulting in a high contrast image. This extends to the subject matter, that is, the intent gaze of the woman, with her wild hair, has a gothic feel, whereas the fluorescent colours are suggestive of pop art. The grainy texture of the black charcoal contrasts well with the flat areas of fluorescent colours, resulting in a vibrant and dramatic image.
I drew and painted on paper, and sealed the surface with varnish and Bondcrete, creating a fairly glossy surface. I then adhered it to the canvas using Bondcrete, and painted the edges black, which frames the image.

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Originally from England, I have lived in Australia for thirty years. My background in graphic design appears to be reflected in my desire to mix realism and abstraction. Generally, I paint the female form, on large canvases, in acrylics, but more recently, I have enjoyed drawing in charcoal, along with the use of acrylic and spray paint, to produce mixed media works on small canvases, still depicting the female form, along with portraits, which is quite a departure for me.
I have been exhibiting since I was a teenager, and now, having lived in the remote city of Cairns for nearly twenty years, I participate in annual group shows, as well as collaborative exhibitions. I like to use photographic source material and was pleased to have an exhibition in collaboration with an award winning photographer who specialises in the female form. I used his edited photographs to translate my own emotional response, using acrylics and spray paint, to convey senses of ephemera, fantasy and drama, resulting in a cohesive body of work. In an upcoming exhibition, I continue to use his images, but have evolved a much more abstract approach, which, interestingly, has been quite a surprise to me!
I am currently a member of the Artists@Work collective where I exhibit paintings and run an art class.