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Overview
"I paint familiar objects-crockery on a dresser shelf, fresh fish on patterned linens-not as passive still lifes, but as celebrations of home and the private theatre of the everyday"
Olivia (Ollie) Tuck, a renowned Sussex-based still life painter, has captivated audiences with her vibrant and joyful compositions. Her artwork, exhibited with prestigious institutions such as the Royal Society of Marine Artists and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters, is a testament to her keen eye for the beauty found in everyday subjects. Olivia’s work uniquely blends traditional still life themes with contemporary colour and pattern, resulting in highly decorative and exuberant pieces. Her artistic achievements have been recognised with several awards, including the second-place Stanley Grimm Memorial Award at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in 2022, the RSMA Next Generation Award and the Holly Bush Painter Prize for Best Figurative Painting in 2021.
Olivia’s artistic journey began with painting portraits of friends and family, evolving significantly around the age of 17 when she started visiting exhibitions. Without formal training, she honed her skills through practice and observation, finding that colour was a defining feature of her work, a trait that continues to excite her today. Transitioning to still life painting, particularly of food items, Olivia found new inspiration during lockdowns, frequenting local farm shops and fishmongers. She discovered beauty in the colours and light of these everyday subjects, often pairing her painting subjects with ingredients for her meals. Painting primarily with oils, Olivia enjoys the medium’s versatility and endless possibilities. Her goal is to create works that invite viewers to closely study the brushwork before stepping back to appreciate the whole piece. She finds immense satisfaction in the continuous learning and development that comes with her artistic practice, cherishing the moments of breakthrough that propel her work forward.
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Werke
Ollie Tuck
Ladybird No. 11Oil and Gold Leaf on Board5 x 5 cms / 2 x 2 inchesWeitere Abbildungen
Description
"Ladybirds, to me, are both a symbol of childhood wonder and a reassuring presence in the garden. We are all familiar with ladybirds and they have lots of different, positive interpretations associated with them. Having spent more time observing them this Spring, with my young daughter, I have noticed how different they are from each other. They vary enormously in colour and pattern but they all appear like shiny little jewels hidden amongst the leaves. I wanted to create a series of ladybird paintings that were just as perfectly small and decorative as the insects themselves. These tiny paintings are designed specifically to add a flash of red to a wall, just like the ladybirds do in the garden. I wanted them to be small enough that the viewer must lean in and observe the ladybird closely, just as we do outdoors" - Ollie Tuck.
Ladybird No. 11 carries a sense of ascent, the small figure appearing to climb steadily upward across the gold leaf ground. Positioned slightly off-centre, the ladybird’s deep burgundy-red shell is punctuated by dark, irregular markings that echo the surrounding black frame. This pairing of frame and subject creates a strong visual harmony: the black moulding seems to extend the insect’s delicate legs, spots and shadowed contours outward into the composition itself. Against the softly luminous gold, these darker tones feel especially pronounced, giving the miniature a subtle drama and sculptural presence. Though modest in scale, the work possesses a surprising sense of movement and determination, as if the ladybird is quietly making her way beyond the confines of the picture plane.
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