Original artwork description:

My general love for muted colours is evident in most my work, so I was quite thrilled to see Artfinder and Liquitex are launching a competition with the theme ' What does muted mean to you'. This is one of the works I have entered into the competition. It is not only muted colours that attracts to my art but also my personality could be described as quite muted:) I do not express things openly or strongly as most my artworks would suggest. There are always a hidden softness or indistinct beauty evident in my work. The three peaces I have chosen to enter into the competition is not only a strong representation of what muted means to me personally, but also the prominent part this concept pays in my art work.

I did a creative food photography project and ended up with these beautiful photographs of a pink Jerusalem garlic. As soon as I saw these images through the lens, I immediately knew they were going to become large scale realistic oil paintings. The intriguing colours, the twisted lines, the reflection and luminosity in the image absolutely blew me away. I couldn't wait to start painting! As I painted the whole image just unfolded from an ordinary garlic to a magnificent flower like image. I kept the background quiet dark, even though it is still saturated with intense colours, to create a contrast between this beautiful unfolding subject that is so unexpected and our traditional preconceived ideas of what and where we can find beauty. Unravelling Beauty is only the first of a series of paintings that will be exploring this subject matter and technique.

Materials used:

Oil on deep box canvas. Painted sides, signed, varnished and ready to hang.

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