Charmaine Barber

I´ve drawn on and off since 3 years old, more off than on. I have a tendency to do either quirky things or serious with no in-between.

I did an Art Foundation Course at Bath College when I was in my late teens. I felt rejected because an art tutor at the small end of term exhibition we had to do, told me not to bother because I was no good. I was devastated and felt like a failure, especially coming from the background I come from.

After that, I didn´t do any art until in my mid forties and since then I get the "urge" to paint or draw and have had a few hours tutoring when I can afford it which isn´t often.

When looking at the naked human form, I always marvel at how the skin falls over the skeletal scaffolding and the way the light and shadow dances on it, sometimes making it disappear into itself, other times projecting it with the full force of beauty or grotesqueness. I enjoy looking at how the muscles under the skin move and ripple.
I feel myself trying to plumb the depths of that person in order to capture a look and their true personality. If only what was in my head could be translated more easily onto my drawing pad or canvas.

The other art side I have is often quirky and more along illustrative lines. I struggle with this conflict of have two sides to me. I guess one is the serious side and the other is the more humorous side of me.