[beverley.healy3]

A few years ago I read a wonderful book called “Your Beautiful Purpose” by Susie Larson.  It is coming from a Christian premise so may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it helped me to come out of a numb place back into a sense that I have been born for a purpose – which includes Art!  I unearthed a reflective, illustrated book of my own that had been on the cusp of being published 10 years ago and decided to self-publish. My book Abraham’s Stars was officially launched a month ago. The first thing I did was send one to Susie Larson to thank her for her inspiration and she sent me a lovely note in return!

[beverley.healy3]

Well here goes – This is my draft statement. I have already had to half this – never realised I had so much to say! –

I always loved to draw – and always drew people – in fact I was often asked to sketch various pop stars for my friends when I was at school and was happy to oblige! I moved into paint and I now focus on the face and the beauty of the face, using egg tempera on gesso board. I came to this medium in the final year of my Fine Art Degree and enjoy the freedom it gives to depict fine detail and its softness of colour. I work from a mixture of photographs and life – I like to know or meet my sitter to get a feel of their personality for myself and create initial sketches. I spend time with my images before I choose the right one, then draw my initial drawing on transfer paper which is then relayed to the board, as tempera gesso is sensitive and I do not want to muddy the colours or disturb the surface as far as I can help it. I seek to create a work that is not merely a likeness but a beautiful painting, a jewel to adorn the wall of a home. Work on my portraits is intense and time-consuming and often engages the perfectionist in me but I love seeing the face appear and finding the exact colour tones to portray the jewel-like beauty of the piece. I know if it is not working that soon it will and that gives the process an edge that can be scary but exhilarating!

My pastel work, on the other hand, allows me to throw away my perfectionism and make “mistakes”. I saw a documentary of an illustrator whose name I have sadly forgotten; she splashed paint, added collage and ripped things out without feeling at all precious about her work. At the time that hit a note with me and I sat with a piece of paper and a favourite song and simply prayed that it would become something – and it did. I was not precious at all in my method and I didn’t care if my anatomy was stylised. I splashed dyes and paints on my page and after this just drew what I felt using soft pastels. The painting became a discovery. The pictures spoke back to me and they were often voices of encouragement or illustrations to particular verses or songs. They came from the heart and have encouraged others as much as they have spoken to me. I see these paintings as a prayer – a two-way conversation between myself and the Creator. Painting this way has helped me to see that all art has the potential to engage in this conversation and I now see my portraits in the same way, although the method is very different.

Whether it be from the head or the heart, I paint to explore the colour and beauty in the world and to offer up a jewel to brighten the life of another.