Clothes by Jessie Burton

Clothes 40.5” x 27”  Jessie Burton Chalk pastel on paper $500 Artist Statement:  Throughout the history of depicting the body, the female figure has been mistrusted by both artists and audiences to hold as much substance, if any, in comparison to the male figure. The use of the female body in art from allegories to archetypes has significantly damaged our perception of her, separating our understanding of the female form from the reality of her humanity. I seek to defy this narrative by depicting the feminine figure in rare states where she has escaped the internalized performance for the patriarchal gaze, instead existing with a defiant agency and autonomy. For me, this occurs when I work in front of my studio mirror, which I capture through self portraiture. The desire to grasp, understand, and abstract anatomy to its utmost nuance guides my line and drive throughout the entire modeling process. I use charcoal and chalk pastel to weave the form of the body in and out of the ground o