Ilse Russell-Jones
From the way reflections are cast on the water ’ s surface to the manipulation of the human form , I have explored how light and colour create a sense of movement . My work displays a connection between the natural and the human , joined through their shared feature of fluidity .
My exploration began with a focus on the contortion of the female body . I used smooth charcoal strokes , manipulating the medium with my hands to impart a sense of motion to the static image . The monochrome palette exaggerated light contrasts , showing the body at a distance from normalised perception .
Progressing from this , I wanted to further explore how varying colour palettes can convey and enhance the sense of fluidity . This drew me to the relationship between the movement of water and that of human bodily expression . By combining human figures with water , I investigated how light reflections through water further distort our features . However , amidst this distortion , the medium of water invites a sense of untouched calm . Thus , the final pieces in my exhibition explore how reflections on the water ’ s surface convey a sense of calm rather than contortion . These artworks depict a surface of fluid and curved lines , of light and darkness , of blue and green . But beneath this seemingly chaotic surface , there remains a sense of tranquil movement .
Therefore , my works serve as a journey from exploring the effect of light on the female form , to the way it captures movement in water . As a result , my art pieces encapsulate the beauty of movement and the ways it can distort the natural .