Description
Behold the Course of the Sun
Acrylic and Charcoal on Stretched Canvas
173 × 132 cm
R16 000
Behold the Course of the Sun is a large, dramatic figure painting that sets a reclining female nude against a blaze of fiery colour. The figure props herself on one arm, her body worked in cool blues, greys and flashes of red, while behind and around her the canvas burns with scarlet, orange and warm ochre. To the right, tall lily stems rise in pale blue-green, their charcoal-drawn petals and leaves threading across the heat like a cool counterpoint.
The mood is bold and elemental, charged with warmth and movement. Julie Tugwell combines loose acrylic washes with expressive charcoal line, letting drips, scumbles and confident drawing carry the energy of the piece. The contrast between the hot ground and the cool figure and lilies gives the painting real presence and a sense of light in motion.
A statement work on a grand scale, this original commands a large wall in a living room, dining room, stairwell or spacious office. Its fiery palette, striking composition and blend of paint and drawing bring drama, warmth and considered sophistication to a contemporary interior.
Style
Julie Tugwell is a contemporary South African artist whose work shares qualities with expressive, painterly traditions, favouring energetic brushwork and an emotional response to her subject over strict realism. Here she combines bold acrylic colour with expressive charcoal line, capturing the atmosphere, heat and vitality of the scene rather than a literal likeness, creating an original artwork that brings drama, warmth and considered sophistication to a contemporary interior.
Please note: Images are provided as a guide to the artwork’s size and style. As each original painting is photographed under different lighting conditions and viewed on different screens, colours may vary slightly from the original artwork.
