Rebecca
Daphne’s Metamorphosis (November 2018)
Ceramic and oxides
17 x 15 x 7cm
Daphne’s Metamorphosis is inspired by the Greek myth of Daphne and Apollo, where Daphne is turned into a tree by her father to protect her from Apollo. Bernini’s sculpture Daphne and Apollo was a source of inspiration for me. I wanted my sculpture not to be skinny, so I used a photo of a plus-size model to get the right proportions. I used small fragments of clay to have a bark-like texture that blended in with the rest of her body.
Light Study (December 2019)
Chalk and charcoal on black paper
45cm x 20cm
Light Study is a life drawing. It shows a woman laying on her side. In this piece, I focused on how to create volume using lights and darks. I blended chalk and charcoal to create a smooth gradient imitating skin, and creating volume by highlighting the contrast between the lights and darks.
Judgement (March 2019)
Acrylic on wood.
37 x 60 cm
Judgement shows a stylised woman laying on her side. Around her, we can see words and phrases used to criticise her body. It shows the constant body shaming women face on social media and real life. No matter their body type, women’s bodies will always be shamed in one way or another. The contrasting colours highlight parts of the body that are most often shamed (thighs, breasts, and stomach). I was inspired by Henry Moore’s sculptures, which are simplified and use blocks of colour.
Thought (June 2019)
Ceramic
30 x 20 x 15 cm
Thought is a sculpture inspired by Philippe Faraut who sculpts portraits and busts. I did not use a model for this sculpture. Some features such as the eyes are exaggerated, as this piece is focused on introspection, and “the eyes are the window to the soul”. I had in mind the passage of time when I was sculpting it, which explains why it became an older man.
Contemplation (May 2018)
Watercolour
19 x 18 cm
Contemplation is a life drawing watercolour. I thought that the model looked very pensive and contemplative. I used blue to reinforce that impression.
Pink (November 2018)
Pen and acrylic
30 x 21 cm
Pink is a life drawing. I first drew the model with one line, and then coloured some parts with pink acrylic. This created volume and made the figure stand out from the page.The pose is both inspired by the model and by one of Matisse’s Odalisques.
Red (November 2019)
Acrylic on black paper
20cm x 10cm
Red is a life drawing made in 15 minutes. It shows a woman sitting while leaning on her arm. The lighting was very strong, making the figure quite simplified while still having realistic proportions. I decided to show the contrast between the shadows and the lights using black paper and white and red paint.
Lineless (November 2019)
Digital drawing
13cm x 19cm
Lineless is a digital life drawing piece I drew on my tablet. Lineless art is, like its name suggests, a technique that consists of making a piece using the least lines possible, showing the figure using only blocks of colour. I believe lineless art is an interesting way to suggest the figure using tone and shape. I was inspired by the art in the animated film Klaus, which does not use lines.
Black and white (November 2019)
Acrylic on wood
100cm x 90cm
Black and White shows a woman sitting down cross-legged. It was painted based on a photograph of a life model. She is looking at something in the distance with a thoughtful and slightly worried look. I chose to paint the figure using black and white paint on a white background because it reminded me of the use (or lack of) colour in street art. I was inspired by the simplification of the figure in some pieces by Henry Moore.
Black and white outside (March 2020)
Acrylic on wood, photography
100cm x 90cm
Black and White outside is the piece Black and White placed in a photograph of a small street in Paris, found in Google Images. I was inspired by Banksy’s and Ernest Pignon’s use of urban settings, which puts their pieces in context. Because I was not able to do so in real life, I decided to edit my piece into the photo of the street to show how it was intended to be displayed.