On the Precipice
By Denise Liebermann
Original artwork
Oil on canvas
Unframed
Image size: H: 150cm x W: 100cm
This striking large figure painting is, in pose and composition, another very confident and creative work from Denise, with clever use of perspective.
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.
Once again, we love the over-enlarged shoe - a trademark of Denise and her figures who, often, are pulled to the front of the canvas to confront us with their feet first.
This is an artist who defies herself and us: the pose of the girl, hunched and crouched to slip under the window frame and blind, is a difficult one to get right, but she has managed it with seeming ease.
A lithe, sinewy beauty pervades the figure's features and limbs as she climbs out towards us. As usual, Denise leaves us to piece together a narrative of what's gone before and what happens next. Why is this young woman on the brink of a threshold? And why does she make such an unconventional exit?
Denise says: "I really wanted to capture the tension, excitement and uncertainty that come just before taking a leap into the unknown: that moment right before an adventure begins."
This is a highly distinctive statement piece for a contemporary setting and would work well as a pair with The Girl in the Socks by the same artist.
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."