Original artwork description:

I started studies for this painting during the first lockdown, when alone in the hills I mainly concentrated on the wildlife around me. There were news stories about the government telling ballerina's to retrain as all the theatres were shut. I wanted to create a painting with a dancer not on display on stage, but vulnerable and alone. The painting is trying to capture the tension and pressure we all felt during that lockdown as well as the stillness and solitude. Her feet are on pointe, the muscle in her leg active and strong countering the pressure of the arms to create balance, while her head rests on her knees in complete surrender.
While the initial smaller paintings captured the feel I wanted they lacked the softness so last year I set about creating a larger work. I don't usually allow myself long periods on a single work, but decided that I wanted to give this painting the time to develop unforced. It came slowly but every time I sat down it improved. It was torture not to paint in the hair, hanging over her face, but I knew the skin had to be completely finished before I painted it in. This element probably was the quickest but it framed her features and softened the entire painting so much so I knew it was finished.

Materials used:

Oil Paints , Stretched Canvas

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