The Girl in the Socks
By Denise Liebermann
Original artwork
Oil on canvas
Unframed
Image size: H: 120cm x W: 100cm
This wonderful large figure painting is, in pose and composition, a highly confident and creative work, with clever use of shadow and highlights, on the figures and in the suggested background.
Denise's lean use of the oil paint allows you to see the brush marks and imagine the painting coming into being through laying down of careful, flat planes of colour, large and small.
We love the over-enlarged shoes and patterned socks - a trademark of Denise and her figures who, often, are pulled to the front of the canvas to confront us with their feet first. The pose of the girl, hunched and curled into this large formal carver chair, is a difficult one to get right, but she has managed it with seeming ease. There's an interesting contrast between her draped, contemporary casual clothes and the formal, upright and traditional seat.
An understated beauty pervades the figure's serene withdrawal and makes us wonder whether she is sad or thoughtful - or merely at ease.
Denise says: "My inspiration for this painting was to capture a mood through a pose: the reset, mental retreat, recharge, a moment to pursue clear thoughts. The girl's body winds in to allow her to focus and unwind."
ABOUT DENISE LIEBERMANN
Denise is a Worcestershire-based artist who shares a studio with another of our artists, Wendi Weller, and who has become respected for her animal portraiture. Her new, larger portrait pieces are showing exclusively with us this winter and move her work on, both in scale and narrative.
"My passion as a portrait artist lies in the intricate dance between capturing a person's outer likeness and revealing their inner essence. Through each stroke of my brush or pencil, I aim to unveil the stories, emotions and unique character that make each individual a work of art in their own right.
"Portraiture, for me, is a deeply personal and profound exploration of human connection. It's not merely about creating a likeness; it's about delving into the soul of the subject and conveying their humanity on canvas or paper.
"Every face tells a story - and I'm committed to telling those stories with empathy, sensitivity, and authenticity.
"In my work, I embrace a blend of classical and contemporary techniques. Whether it's a detailed, realistic portrayal or a more interpretive and abstract representation, my goal is to elicit a sense of recognition and emotional resonance in the viewer.
"Through the medium of portraiture, I hope to foster a deeper understanding of the human experience, celebrating our diversity, vulnerabilities, and strengths. Each portrait is an opportunity to explore the intricacies of identity and the shared bonds that connect us all."