I work from found and created photographs and film stills. At first glance I was immediately taken with this fun filled piece, giving a wonderful sense of floating up to the surface to the light, the joy of doing it in a bikini and heels, the colour and light filtered through the water... it represented elation and freedom to me. The professional frame has been painted in a slightly lighter tone than the light blue-acqua colour you can see in the painting. The canvas is covered in Japanese Rice Paper to give a texture akin to the movement on the surface of water. I have used contemporary techniques the background using expressionistic action painting techniques - pouring, dripping, splashing paint and involving my body in the painting process rather than just the paint brush. The figure was created using pop art techniques and stencils, and a further layer of hand painting brought the foreground and background together. My palette is bright and uplifting.
