Portrait of Holly Leaf, with Red Painting

Biography Margot is a British based Artist currently in Herefordshire, United Kingdom. Margot studied a FdA in Creative Art Practice at Hereford College of Art, where she was encourage to research, take risks and be brave. Given the opportunity to explore and experiment with a wide range of disciplines. For example print making, small metals, ceramics, photography, drawing/painting, digital media and textiles has given her the skills and confidence to thrive on the course and beyond. The course gave her time to decide what she wanted to specialise in. She developed an independent practice and developed her own voice. Margot’s main artistic inspirations comes from the Renaissance Masters in particular, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Andre Vercocchio’s ancient techniques. Margot’s main medium in her current artwork collection is working with silverpoint. Her themes are exploring the power of the moment - life. Appreciating moments that have passed and preserving her stories through words and drawings. Artwork Statement The ideas I use in mark-making is based on capturing life, my drawings are about capturing a moment, a moment that has gone forever, impossible to reproduce. The main characteristics I use in my drawings are descriptive, expressive and conceptual ideas. The drawing techniques used (such as hatching, cross-hatching, stippling, dabbling) help with different elements of my artwork to stand-out. I use chiaroscuro, the treatment of light and shade in a drawing. The first lines are very light and darks are slowly built up with overlaying lines and more pressure being used. I made dark tones with intersecting hatched lines. My ideas are based on capturing life, which record likeness, personality and character, with open intimacy. The sitter does not need to be validated, or match any expectation of a patron. I explore intimate emotions and artistic forms in more personal expressive ways. These ideas are present in my recent artwork. (“Woman with a Hat” drawing with Silverpoint, watercolour and acrylic on Legion paper.). This medium allows me to mark, shape, create line texture, contrast, form, scale and touch. I am inspired by the Renaissance Masters: Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Andrea Vercocchio’s unique and ancient technique. I find silverpoint drawings are exquisite, intimate artworks, the medium requires a meticulous and detail approach.