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Emma Copley

Newmarket
Copley’s practice explores the influence digital technology has on painting and it’s connection to three-dimensional form and performance.
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Glimpses of the everyday and human connection are on going threads within my work. Each painting is inspired by everyday life: a dark sink full of dishes with the sun coming in the window, or my son and daughter sitting with their backs to me, watching TV. I take pictures of these moments; make notes on colour and sketch. Using the photo as a starting point I create the composition on panel and eliminate areas from the image in order to intensify the emotion.

My largest works are 14 metres long and smallest 15 x 22 centimetres. My paintings begin with muted tones, using greys tinted with primary colour, ending with an infusion of bright colour that relates closely to these. I spend a lot of time looking at my palette and mixing groups of colour. Brushstrokes vary between smooth, slow, thoughtful marks and fast, thick layers of paint.

I paint and draw with thick oils on wood; smooth, flat gouache; ink and charcoal on paper. When using oils, I paint quickly with a palette knife spreading globs of paint on a smooth hard surface, wet into wet, carving out forms and building up texture.

 

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