Emma Knowles, 41, lives in Stretford, Manchester with her partner and two children. A passionate painter of people, Emma has always 'strived to capture the essence of the individual' as she said in a previous Artist Statement, 'warts and all'. She has exhibited all around the UK, and she has been commissioned by individuals and international companies, moset recently by the Standerd Chartered Bank of India's London office at Aldermanbury Square EC2. Working from her studio at her Old Trafford home, she has maintained an artistic practice for nealry 20 years. |
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Emma Knowles Artist Statement |
Growing up in an artistic environment was a privelage. Having the freedom to look through art books, to see art every day and to watch my parents physically making their paintings was, in no doubt, beneficial in my own journey to become an artist. As with any child, the struggle to establish their own identity is crucial in their development.
The importance of drawing, in its broadest sense, has been the fundamental link between my thoughts on art and my upbringing. This was strengthened by tutors on the Bangor Art Foundation Course, who, along with Peter Prendergast, gave me a sense of reward which working hard can bring.
Anna Maria Pacheco, Head of Fine Art at Norwich School of Art in 1989, helped in some way to bring about my independence, throught her ethos of developing one's individual vision of life and encouraging students to have faith in themselves. My life at present combines being a mother, teacher, and artist. I am lucky, also, to have a supportive partner Peter.
Meeting other artists and learining along with my students, new techniques, and ideas helps to maintain a fresh and open approach. Time is limted and it is sometimes an uphill battle, but would I have it any other way?
My painting so far has been predominantely based upon the human figure. This has developed over the years, ranging from working directly from life, using photography and, more recently, mixed media. The human figure is nearly always represented in portrait form, attempting to capture the strength and poresence an individual possesses. The football fans were a result of visits to our local football ground [Manchester United's Old Trafford]. They provided a greater source of interest to me than the game itself; the united wash of colour highlighting, strangley, the individuality of each person. The nightclubbers are about women and their confidence in their sexuality. They are also the beginning of experimenting more with different kinds of media and the enjoyment this can bring.
It is only a beginning, but the small collages of my children playing are how I see my future work developing. Not necessarilty in the subject matter, but trying to merge the playfulness of the materials in unity with intensiy of the pinted portrait.
Emma's Statement from the Royal Cambrian Academy Website http://www.rcaconwy.org/
Throughout my artistic practice the human form has dominated my subject matter. I paint sometimes directly from life,which has always been an intuitive process and sometimes using photography as a source,which is relatively new and still, I suppose, in its infancy.I strive to capture the essence of an individual,their characteristics, bold and without any distraction - as the saying goes ‘warts and all'.
Fel arlunydd, y ffurf ddynol yw'r testun yr wyf wedi canolbwyntio arno erioed. Weithiau rwy'n peintio'n uniongyrchol o fywyd, proses a fu'n un reddfol erioed, ac weithiau rwy'n defnyddio ffotograffau fel ffynhonnell,rhywbeth cymharol newydd nad ydw i ond megis dechrau ei feithrin. Rwy'n ceisio cael gafael ar hanfod unigolyn,ei nodweddion, a'i ddarlunio'n eofn, gyda'i holl ffaeleddau, heb i ddim darfu ar hynny. |
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EMMA KNOWLES
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BORN - 1967 Liverpool, Merseyside, England.
STUDIED
1985-86 Bangor Technical College, Gwynedd, North Wales. - Art Foundation Course
1986-89 Norwich School of Art, Norwich, Norfolk. - BA (hons) 2.1 Fine Art
2003 Sunderland University - PGCE
TEACHING
1989 Bolton College of Higher Education, Lancashire.
1989 Gwynedd Technical College, Bangor, Gwynedd.
1990 Edge Hill College of Higher Education, Ormskirk, Lancashire.
1991 Blackburn College of Higher Education, Lancashire.
1991 St Helen's Community College, Lancashire.
1990-98 HM Prison Risley, Risley, nr Warrington, Cheshire.
1993-01 Wirral Metropolitan College, Wirral, Merseyside.
2001-date Tameside College, Ashton-u-Lyne, Greater Manchester.
PROFESSIONAL
Royal Cambrain Academy, Invited Member, Conwy.
Manchester Academy of Fine Arts - Member.
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