Body at Rest
figure painting in ink
An exploration in self portraiture
For #Inktober2019 I took on a personal challenge of figure painting with ink. This self exploratory project involved working on developing one new figurative expression each day, everyday for 31 days straight.
Painting with a dry brush dipped in ink is quite different from drawing into a sketchbook. Here, the whole arm is involved in making the gesture, not just the wrist. I let instinct lead me and painted life size figures on large sheets of newsprint.
By painting each gesture multiple times, I’d work through abstraction, composition and expression of the form while keeping the brush strokes minimal.
In these paintings, the expression is not only captured by what is drawn, but also by what is left out. I was interested in the authenticity of expression over the pursuit of perfection.
During the course of this project, I developed a process that worked for me. Painting each figure multiple times would step by step lead me into a continuous flow of painting the expression with fluid movement.
I also made videos of the final paintings to capture this meditative flow.
The gestures in these paintings express the body in a state of rest.
As women, we hold complex relationships with our bodies. These expressions are about rediscovering one’s body image devoid of ‘posing’ for the external gaze. Relearning our understanding of what it means ‘to be’- to simply exist in our bodies.
It is harder for women to prioritize self care and rest for themselves over the needs of their loved ones. These paintings are about normalizing rest for women and unlearning the guilt around taking the time to rest.
