Description
In Plain Sight
Acrylic on Loose Canvas
140 × 142 cm
R18 000
In Plain Sight is a large, richly symbolic figure painting full of colour and storytelling. Two nude figures lie entwined at its centre, one painted in warm coral-orange, the other in soft rose-pink, their bodies curving together against a cool turquoise ground. A crested bird stands watchfully beside them, a bold red disc glows like a sun behind it, and daisies, stylised leaves and peacock-feather motifs bloom across the lower half of the canvas.
The mood is warm, intimate and dreamlike. Julie Tugwell sets warm skin tones against cool blue-greens and pattern-filled borders, so the figures feel both tender and theatrical, held within a decorative, almost mythic world of her own making. The composition is bold and confident, yet the closeness of the two figures gives it real gentleness and calm.
At 140 × 142 cm this is a commanding, statement-scale work with genuine narrative presence. Its warm-and-cool palette and strong design make it a striking focal point for a spacious living room, bedroom, studio or gallery wall, rewarding both a first glance and a longer, closer read.
Style
Julie Tugwell is a contemporary South African artist whose work shares qualities with expressive, colour-led traditions, favouring energetic brushwork, heightened colour and an emotional response to her subject over strict realism. In her figurative work she blends the human form with pattern, symbol and rich decorative detail, capturing feeling and atmosphere rather than literal likeness. The result is a body of original artworks that bring warmth, character and considered sophistication to contemporary interiors.
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.
