Acclaimed painter Lauren Esplin says she feels most herself with her feet sunk deeply into the sand, cool sea on her skin, and taste of salt on her lips. This evocative description lends itself to the stunning works she creates, the viewer instantly transported to the distinct beauty and raw-edged power of the coastline and the beauty that lies beyond. Beach culture is deeply entrenched in human nature and Esplin’s contemporary paintings seamlessly integrates elegantly detailed figures into abstracted coastal and oceanic landscapes that echo the familiar, a signature of the artists’ style.
She explains that her creation process starts with just a moment in time: “It’s about capturing the emotional response to the landscape, rather than the landscape as we see it. I look to capture the moment, not as it is, but as it is felt”, says Esplin.
The artists’ large coastal figurative artworks are evocative and her lens on beach culture is original, creative and altogether captivating. A woman effortlessly gliding through an underwater world; others chase crudely drawn fish with arms outstretched; a mother and child paddle towards each other over a colourful coral rock shelf… The paintings appeal to the viewers’ mind and body prompting memories of the psychological and physical freedom that is experienced through our connection with the ocean. Sandstone pinks, blue greys, verdigris, teal and turquoise often form a soft background, while the colour of hot sun on sea-splashed skin finely realised in human form is the active subject of each work.
The artist strips back the coastal environment, revealing layers of colour, shapes and patterns she sees in nature. Arial views of water have become thick brush marks of teals and aqua, ripples and reflections are expressed through intricate patterns, andcrude drawings of underwater coral and sea life help to create a sense of movement and energy.
Each work captures a joyous sense of freedom, the release a day at the beach promises. You can hear and smell the ocean, feel the sun on your skin, and imagine the first sizzling steps into the cool water.