Fruitbat
Acrylic 29x42cms Originally I made this image in connection to the Scapegoat Exhibition with the Winnicott Wednesday Collective, exploring animals that have been projected onto in relation to fear and have been joined with humans in mythology, the bat is one that has been infused with the idea of vampires, of dark dwellings and caves. This bat seemed much more playful and ingenious than it’s reputation. This image shows a sense of removing the history and associations that have been placed upon bats as a species and seeing past the labels and fear to see a more rounded view of the animal – the fruit bat being one of a huge amount of varieties of bat. |
Selkie
Gouache 21x29cms Selkies are found in Icelandic, Irish and Scottish folklore and the story often goes that they live in the sea but sometimes appear on land shedding their seal skin for a human appearance. While painting this greyhound I was reminded of selkies with its shining fur. I am interested in these transformational elements in animal-human folklore. The selkie is adaptable and able to live in different worlds. Some dogs can look strikingly like seals at times, seeming to mark their kinship with their watery cousins. |
Murmuration
Gouache 29x42cms These starlings were created when I was thinking about the various groups I’ve been in and the group etiquette and communication needed. Starlings are known for vast murmurations and their amazing ability to fly as large groups, navigating in an instinctive way in great or small numbers. Starlings are strong, curious and resilient. Starlings 'murmurations' are huge waves of movement and show how effective groups can be when communicating with and responding to each other. These starlings are in their tree, resting and alert. In particular this resonates with my experience of the vast movements and navigations needed when tutoring on the Art Psychotherapy Masters, seeing how the staff team and students communicated and reflected on things constantly, using keen eyesight and intuition, creating waves of insight and furthering understanding. |