Sarah Richards

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Since 2005, my work has involved still life and nude subjects, all in acrylic and mostly on canvas. When working I focus on constructing paintings on instinct, attempting not to be in control, or self conscious, allowing contributing factors such as mood, atmosphere company, relationships with a given model, life experience and the subconscious programmes within, all to play there part.

I have discovered that working alla-prima is successful for me, as returning to the painting at a later time will not work as most factors mentioned will have no choice but to change, thus upsetting the balance, and even resulting in total dismantling of the painting.

I am concerned with preserving fluidity, energy and hopefully a rawness in the work. I believe my painting to be at an exciting developmental stage, again trying not to be in control of what comes out. On saying this, I work in the hope that the paintings will naturally and gently evolve, leaning towards a more abstract style/genre. I firmly believe that this cannot be forced and one can lose everything if attempted.

My paintings have evolved over the last four years, from delicate layering of transparent tints to applying near pure colours such as cobalt blue, or alizarin crimson, aided with acrylic medium thick gel, leaving evidence of brush strokes on the canvas.

Currently I am in transition to full use of oils. Applying paint generously, with much attention to what I consider to be attractive brush strokes. This new work is busy and colourful as before, the above concepts remain.

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