Freedom in Ultramarine Painting

Having lived in the UK, South Africa, and now in Australia, preserving elements of her life and experiences is paramount in her work. Compositionally diverse artist she often seeks to capture a symbolism in her work, drawing on her experiences living in these very different countries. Calling on the connection she has with South Africa and Australia, Karen Goddard’s abstracts and floral artworks are deeply influenced by the botanicals and environmental facets familiar to both. Her still life depictions encapsulate the innate shapes and exuberance of her organic subjects, while her mark making abstractions embody their unique and specific colourations. Previously living through times of national turmoil and transformation, her works persistently focus on the beauty of her natural surroundings, and deliver an emotive and meditative quality that arouses captivation and peace. Favouring an impressionistic creative approach, Karen alternates between oils and acrylics in order to produce diverse compositional elements, imagery and texturizations. She typically begins by depositing a ground colour onto the canvas, which habitually determines the ethos of the work. Layering the complimentary colours in stages, which are individually mixed through a meticulously process, each of the darker shades are typically set down first, while lighter colours are introduced later. A pattern of short and repetitive brushstrokes are utilised in the creation of her abstracts, which produces an overlay over the existing colour work, and instigates the qualities of movement and flow.