Liz Dalton · Artist

Artist's Statement

Liz Dalton's work makes reference to both the traditional and more contemporary practices in painting. Using many small brush strokes, she feels akin to a Victorian embroiderer at her frame. Initially in relief, the strokes are later smoothed over to form flat colour.

She paints shadows which are detached, capturing the essence of an object once its reference points have been taken away. This prevents one from labelling elements in the paintings; these images touch your senses in a more immediate way.

There is an interactive aspect to the images. The observer often believes they can see shapes suggestive of other forms; birds, animals, a baby's fontanel or a face. An experience similar to looking at trees in twilight; the silhouette takes on a mysterious quality.

Mapping the minutiae of the edges of a shadow, she uses contrasting, sometimes complimentary colours; positive shapes capture a moment in time.

Each painting has a particular emphasis; patterns comparable to a paint splash or complimentary colour combinations that vibrate.

The inspirations are from her drawings and photographs of natural forms and objects collected from Dartmoor, Dulwich Park and Switzerland.