Live painting at Birmingham Open Studios 2022
Kings Heath Art Rooms, Birmingham
In her artistic pursuit, Emma crafted a painting based on a series of photographs featuring her partner, known affectionately as Qui. This work represents an intensely intimate portrayal of Qui, a canvas upon which Emma poured her deepest feelings and perceptions, revealing nuances that only she could discern. Utilizing a palette dominated by green and blue tones, Emma sought to emphasize the unique shades that played upon Qui’s visage, stemming from the wall’s reflection behind her. These colors held a profound personal connection for Emma, evoking memories of her childhood spent gazing at the painted front door in a similar hue.
Through her artistry, Emma placed Qui at the forefront of the painting, creating a striking overlap that seemed to merge their identities, symbolising the union of their shared experiences within the artwork. It was a visual journey chronicling their relationship, woven into the very brushstrokes of the canvas. Emma directed her focus toward capturing Qui’s expression, striving to extract and illuminate the energy and soul that defined her partner.
For Emma, painting portraits was a labor of love and an experience akin to meditation. While working on Qui’s portrait, she embarked on a solitary journey where only she and Qui existed, a profoundly personal connection that allowed her to delve deep into the essence of her subject and convey it onto the canvas.
Qui
Oil on Canvas 2022
61 × 76.2cm 320qsm
Deep Edge Cotton Canvas