Claudette Johnson at Modern Art Oxford

Great day out.  I love portraiture. This time the images were large - typically 4 feet by 5 feet.  Johnson draws on a wall as they are so large, so she has the model behind her, and keeps turning to and fro to look and draw.  She allows the model considerable freedom to choose the pose.  I find it amazing that she can draw so much larger than life and get the expressions of the models.  No bland imagery here!

Sketchbook drawings 2018-19.  Pastel, gouache and paint on paper.
Johnson uses sketchbook exercises as warm-up for larger scale drawings.

Standing Woman.
"I'm not interested in portraiture or the tradition.
 I'm interested in giving  space to black woman presence.
A presence which has been hidden, distorted and denied.
I'm interested in our humanity, our feelings, and our politics.
Some things which have been neglected.
Claudette Johnson

Seated figure, pastel and gouache on paper.

Reclining figure, pastel and gouache on paper.

Figure with figurine.  Acrylic, gouache and pastel on paper.
Johnson is trying to understand her relationship with African figures
through their appropriation by early 20th century European artists
and later circulation in art history.