Natalie Toplass February 21, 2024 – Posted in: Artists
Artist : Natalie Toplass
Limited edition prints - Natalie Toplass
Natalie started painting professionally shortly after moving to Shropshire in 2003, following the completion of a Fine Art Degree and a post-grad in Stage Set and Design.
Natalie often works from photographs translated onto a large canvas. The focus is then increased to enable the viewer to be surrounded and drawn into what becomes a detailed perception of colour, form, movement and texture.
The subjects themselves are just the starting point to study these elements; the effects of sunlight and shadows are also having an increasing effect on her work; the subtly of colour captures a unique moment. Each subject is so different, offering delicacy and detail but at the same time strength and vitality. It’s these differences that fascinate Natalie and she tries to capture that essence in her work. She wants the viewer to have an experience that is beyond that of the image itself, therefore the scale of her work is important. By enlarging the scale the nature of the subject is intensified and enables the viewer to become surrounded by the beauty of the subject..
The focus of the painting is intensely studied to identify the motivation for the study. Her interests range from capturing the delicacy of a petal or feather while also showing the strength within the subject. This is then emphasised by the plain background where a minimum of distraction is sought.
Her work has been successfully shown in Tokyo, Singapore, London, New York and Australia. She has had various articles published in Artists and Illustrator’s Magazine and has delivered several masterclasses at the prestigious West Dean College near Chichester while also a regular Artist in Residence at Nature in Art in Gloucester.