A recent study of oil painting techniques led me to visit Tate Britain for this exhibition of figure painting. I enjoyed the standard greats including Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud
but was more interested in examining the less-famous artists in the last room of the show; these painters were really exciting for their handling of materials.
Lynette Yiadom-Boakye creates each painting in just one day according to the information at the show – quite an achievement for the scale of work she can produce. I love the looseness and confidence of her brushwork dealing with the “what” more than the “who”.
Celia Paul’s painting is much more heavily worked with compelling intensity.
I have long been an admirer of Paula Rego and was wowed once more by her use of pastels. Look at her treatment of fabric in this piece, particularly the veil.
Jenny Saville specialises in hugely over life-sized representations of the female form in oils. The materiality of her work mesmerises.
