artist statement for "mother and child" painting
Interweaving the primal human experience of being a parent, with the ancient action of painting, I aim to communicate what's felt in these most intimate of moments and uplift the viewer to this emotional place.
Inspired by my figurative favorites; Matisse, Raphael and Botticelli, simple line contours of the figures and blocks of color emerged into floral patterns in the pillows and the curtain. In Raphael and Botticelli’s paintings, their subject was “Madonna and child”, and the ultramarine blue they used, more precious than gold in the Renaissance. I use here to portray that every mother and child is sacred.
After having my son, it was clear that this was the subject for me to paint, all others paled in comparison. Long gone are the days of career-choosing, childless, female artists. Like fellow artist Jenny Saville, I’m inspired by being a mother.
