Fine Art

by Natacha Holbourn

Living room with modern black sideboard, white vase with dried branches, framed artwork of a woman with a red headscarf, turntable, black speaker, books on small coffee table, beige carpet, white wall, and sunlight

PORTRAITURE

For whatever reason, I’m drawn to sketching and painting portraits. For many artists, portraiture is a genre to be avoided, perhaps as the market can be incredibly fickle. However, for me there’s something inherently curious about facial features, in the way that subtle nuances create such distinctive feelings. As an artist I find myself torn between the beauty of perfect symmetry and the potential of micro expressions to completely change the emotional impact of my art. The mastery of this portrayal is a challenge that excites and overwhelms me in equal waves and will be a work in constant work in progress.

The Veil of Insecurity

This collection portrays the hidden insecurities that lay behind even the most beautiful, strong and successful women. The self doubt, the imposter syndrome, the constant feeling of not being good enough no matter how many challenges are overcome. It seeks to show the conflict behind the need to be seen and heard in the world, and the desire to sometimes shrink back and hide into a safe space.

Portraits in The Veil of Insecurity collection have been created with an initial acrylic painting over which has been draped silk dipped in a plaster mix. The initial draping process is then secured with many further layers of plaster mix after which it is sanded, finished and finally painted. The original base painting is then enhanced with finishing touches of both acrylic and oil paints. Finally, the gesture of creating a transparent veil is performed with a solid sweeping momentum across the face. A deliberate move to obscure the original portrait in its entirely from the world.

A COLLECTION OF FEMALE PORTRAITS IN MULTIMEDIA

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A vintage-style room corner with a bright blue vinyl record storage cabinet, topped with a modern wooden turntable, a beige vase with dried pampas grass, a speaker, and a framed artwork of a bird. On the wall, a framed portrait of a woman is partially obscured by a dark, textured fabric or sculpture draped over it, with a dark-colored wall backdrop.
Interior room with a green wall, black console table holding books, decorative vases, and sculptures, and a framed drawing of a woman's face with a black leather piece draped over the top.
Interior wall decor with a framed portrait of an Asian woman partially covered by a beige silk-like fabric. Below the portrait, there are various vases and dried plants on a wooden floor, with some green leafy plants on the left.
A home office with a wooden desk, open book, small decorative items, and a brown office chair. A framed art portrait of a woman with a silky fabric partially covering her face hangs on a white wall. There is a window with wood trim on the left and a wooden floor.
A framed portrait of a woman with long black hair and light makeup, partially covered with a crumpled white cloth, is displayed on a blue wall inside an art gallery or museum, with visitors visible in the background.
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