Figuratively Speaking

Posted by The Colomb Art Gallery / Thursday 31st of March, 2022

Perhaps the most evocative of all subject matter, the human form has proven to be endlessly fascinating to both artists and collectors throughout history. Whether it be in celebration, or plight, figurative art has taken many emphatic guises, from the celestial flesh of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling to the unmasked horrors of Picasso’s Guernica. But as we make the transition from grandiose public arena to the intimate sanctuary of our own homes, the artwork we encounter shifts and adapts in accordance. Rather than look to what is imposing and confrontational, we instead search for harmony - for art that echoes the personal.

'Sunlit Afternoon' by Tina Spratt	'Almost Ready' by Tina Spratt

Elevating the everyday, Tina Spratt captures moments of quiet splendour in her entrancing pastel works. Through her gaze, the simple act of applying those last touches of make-up or indulging in a glass of wine in the late afternoon are made sacred, revealing the poetry present in everyday life. Exploring themes of intrigue and reflection, Tina’s work offers enveloping narratives, paired with elegant composition and a masterly technique.

'Salcombe Distractions' by Dianne Flynn

From intimate interiors to the intimacy of family relationships, Dianne Flynn’s figurative paintings present scenes of bright, high summer. There are days at the beach, with children splashing in the sparkling ocean and there are lively summer rambles, as families tramp over the clifftops, through golden meadows and blooming poppy fields. Dianne’s work possesses a timeless quality, allowing the viewer to impose their own lives and memories onto her paintings, offering a nostalgic embrace to any and all generations.   

The art we bring into our home is a reflection of ourselves, our taste, our pleasures and our memories. As such, the nature of figurative art offers not only a classic acquisition, but an emblem of the people and moments in life we cherish most.