SARAH HOWARD
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It is with great pleasure and admiration that I introduce the exhibition of Sarah Howard, an artist whose journey through portraiture, landscapes, and still life has culminated in a collection that is as much a testament to her skill as it is to her connection with her subjects. Sarah's work embodies the delicate balance between observation and imagination, resulting in both familiar and refreshing artworks.
For over 40 years, Sarah has explored the complexities and subtleties of oil painting. Her artistic foundation was laid at Heatherleys in London and further honed at Charles Cecil Studios in Florence, where she studied portraiture—these formative years endowed her with a profound understanding of the human form, which later informed her transition to still life and landscapes. Over the past five years, Sarah has devoted herself to these genres, bringing a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to each canvas.
An intuitive and accessible approach to painting characterises Sarah’s process. She embraces the quiet focus of observing her subjects and the following fluidity of creation. Her landscapes and still-life artworks are not merely representations of the physical world; they are distilled through her memory and imagination, reworked until they capture the scene’s essence. This method brings an element of unpredictability to her work, where the risks taken often yield unexpected and exciting results.
The influence of Sarah's background in interior decoration is evident in her masterful use of colour, space, and light. Her career in this field has undoubtedly shaped her artistic vision, allowing her to compose aesthetically pleasing and emotionally resonant paintings. Additionally, her love of gardening is a continuous source of inspiration, infusing her work with a natural vibrancy and a deep connection to the organic world.
Hester Baldwin, Managing Director, 2024
