Description
Unshackle
Acrylic and Charcoal on Unstretched Canvas
98 × 130 cm
R8 000
Unshackle is a large, energetic abstract that seems to buzz with movement. Across a shifting field of pale sage, sea-green and soft grey, Julie Tugwell layers scattered flecks of red, gold and pink, then draws through them with looping, restless lines of charcoal and black — arcs, scribbles and sudden dark accents that dart across the surface like the aftermath of a storm.
The work rewards a longer look. There is no single focal point; instead the eye roams freely, catching a knot of crimson here, a drift of turquoise there, a run of paint left to trail down the canvas. The combination of soft, painterly colour and sharp gestural line gives the piece both atmosphere and edge, and the raw, unstretched canvas adds to its immediate, unguarded feel. The title suggests release, and the painting carries that spirit of freedom in every mark.
Bold and contemporary, this is a statement piece for a generous wall. It would bring life and a sense of creative energy to a living room, studio, office or gallery space, holding attention and sparking conversation wherever it hangs.
Style
Julie Tugwell is a contemporary South African artist whose work shares qualities with expressive, gestural traditions, favouring spontaneous mark-making and an emotional response to her subject over strict realism. In this abstract she lets colour, line and movement carry the painting, combining soft painterly fields with restless charcoal drawing to capture energy and atmosphere rather than any literal subject. Her confident handling brings warmth, vitality 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.
