Artwork on display at the Tower of Song October 2009
I never know whether to call my pieces drawings or paintings. They are both.
I'm interested in the interplay between the two, and the challenge is to make
them work together. The starting point is the painting, and it is very loose.
This part is done very fast, using watercolour, with no preliminary drawing.
Once the paper has dried enough, I home in on the structure with chalk pastels.
The drawing adds precision, but not too much. I try to draw decisively, using
broad firm marks.
I'm not trying for a likeness, nor to show things 'as they are'. What I do is
more about an emotional response, which comes out in the vibrancy of the colours
and the energy of the lines.
Pastels - click a thumbnail to view the full size image
Photographs
'I am not a photographer, I think of these more as an extension of my
paintings. There are many similarities: the richness and blending of the
colours, the blurring and movement. The anonymity, it could be anyone. The
immediacy of chance: the images were not changed in any way other than just
cropping.
It was only when watching the slideshow of photos that I noticed the tension in
the muscles. Those musicians put so much passion into their playing, it's no
surprise they sound so damn good.'
Click a thumbnail to view the full size image
You can see more of Carla's work at Birmingham Artists
