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Donna Murphy
Website:
'@artistdonnamurphy
Everything We Touch (large scale charcoal drawing)
David (mini sketchbook work)
See You Again (large scale charcoal and wash)
Biography
It's my mission to create artworks that celebrate and capture people. Bodies and faces yes but more so the stories and emotions behind them. I am fascinated by physical movement, imperfections, beauty, love and life. I hope my work and process explores all of this and more.
It's also important for me to stay true to my love and knowledge of anatomical studies which has been a huge part of my life and heavily influences my work today. Combining this together with my passion of drawing to create final works for all to enjoy plus sharing my creative process every step of the way.
I hope that my art, my story and my process reaches many and has a great impact somewhere in the world.
inspiration
There’s nothing that inspires me quite like people. Our vessels, yes. Our aesthetics absolutely! But furthermore, how only a single expression can provoke another feeling, how a single pose can tell a story and how a series of movements can speak to us on a whole new level. There’s something in me that feels alive when I see a dancer dance, a life model explore poses and the everyday person experience life through movement, sight, sound, emotion and much more.
I’m fascinated by the human body in an anatomical way as well as a creative artistic way. I find myself constantly observing curves, lines, shadows, behaviours, imperfections, little details, postures and poses everywhere in everyone. We are all art!
It may be evident when looking at my work also that I have been heavily influenced by years of dancing and training as an athlete. Prior to creating my work on paper, I was sculpting my body with exercise and helping others do the same. It always fascinated me. This continues to influence my work.
medium
I dive into a box of graphite, pastels and charcoal sticks daily - often emerging from the studio generously dusted in black ashes. I love to create daily and know that somewhere in the process, a work of art has come to life.
Graphite and charcoal are my first loves. I commit to regular sketching exercises - timed life drawing poses, speed sketches, line work and have even completed large scale super-realism works over the years. I push boundaries with mediums, creating my own powders, dry painting with them, adding water and sometimes even experimenting with acetone.
The tools I use vary across the use of all mediums. Everything from a paintbrush to a make-up sponge, from a soft tip spatula to a cotton bud.
Moving these mediums around the surface, building values and exploring movement is a lot of fun. These techniques play a super important role in achieving the overall look of the final piece.