In the captivating oil painting titled "Lilies," the canvas is adorned with the serene beauty of water lilies in various shades of green, delicately floating on a dark lake. The artist's meticulous brushstrokes skillfully depict the interplay of light and shadow, as the tranquil water mirrors the soft, cloudy blue sky above. The reflections of silhouetted trees on the water's surface add a touch of enchantment, creating a symphony of nature's elements.
The top edge of the painting unveils the bank of the lake, grounding the scene with a glimpse of the surrounding landscape. As the light sky reflects off the water, the composition invites viewers to immerse themselves in the quietude of this lakeside haven. "Lilies" becomes a visual retreat, where the nuanced portrayal of water, sky, and nature converges into a contemplative atmosphere. Allow this artwork to grace your space, capturing the timeless beauty of a tranquil lakeside adorned with the delicate presence of water lilies.
Lillies
40 x 50cm
Julie Tugwell
I was raised to appreciate the arts by attending ballet performances and dancing at PACT in Pretoria as a young child. Many afternoons were spent visiting art galleries with my mom and it was her dream for me to pursue being an artist like my father, the renowned landscape painter Chris Tugwell. It took some time for me to start painting, and only after the passing of my mom in my mid-twenties did I reach for a brush in an attempt to connect with her. I soon realized that I wanted to succeed at art and chose to dedicate my life to being a full time artist.
A chance meeting with accomplished fine artist James Mooney led to my apprenticeship in his studio for the next 16 years where I learned from his mastery of the skills and techniques of hyper-realism. Whilst James trained me in the discipline of fine art realism, it was Jill Mooney, Jame’s wife, who introduced me to the world of colour and liberated my brush to become deeply self expressive. This signature of their combined tutelage is evident in the abstractions, flowers and colourful figures prevalent in my current body of work.
My days are now mostly spent in the studio where I work as a full-time artist on both large expressive canvases of colour and also smaller pieces of hyper realism.
