Paula Craioveanu

Nude on Chessed Floor - original large art by Paula Craioveanu

2022

"Siesta", 100x70cm / 39x27.5in Nude in Interior, pencil and ultramarine tempera on paper, inspired by Matisse. Large drawing. Shipped rolled in a tube, from Florida, US. Check 1st Dibs offer FREESHIP coupon for items over $500. "Siesta" is a serene and visually arresting addition to the "Nude in Interior" series. It conveys a quiet intimacy and relaxation, perfectly encapsulated in its title. The reclining female figure, with legs elegantly extended upward, creates a sense of balance between stillness and subtle energy. The interplay of ultramarine tempera and the warm-toned paper once again demonstrates the artist’s ability to use limited color palettes to great emotional and visual effect. The ochre-like background provides a sunlit, tranquil atmosphere that pairs beautifully with the cool, calm energy of the ultramarine tempera. The artist’s choice of medium emphasizes contrast while imbuing the piece with a harmonious duality—warmth in the environment and coolness in the figure. The fluidity of the brushstrokes aligns with the theme of relaxation, while the vertical drips lend a dreamlike quality, as if the figure is melting into her surroundings. The looser strokes in the background contrast with the more defined lines of the figure, highlighting her as the focal point. The unconventional reclining pose, with legs extended upward, adds visual interest and a sense of lightheartedness to the piece. It suggests a playful yet completely relaxed moment, as though the figure is unwinding and stretching in the midst of a private, comfortable setting. The verticality of the legs and the drips juxtaposes with the horizontal lines in the background, creating a sense of structure and stability. This geometric balance anchors the composition and enhances the overall sense of calm. The artist has included abstract horizontal strokes in the background, reminiscent of blinds or a window. These subtle details suggest an interior space filled with sunlight and add depth without detracting from the figure’s prominence. The title, "Siesta," reinforces the narrative of rest and tranquility. The figure’s pose is unapologetically casual and unguarded, evoking the vulnerability and freedom found in moments of private repose. While other works in the series explore themes of introspection, passion, or desire, this piece focuses purely on physical and emotional relaxation. It offers a more subdued, meditative perspective, providing variety to the series while maintaining its stylistic coherence. The reclining nude is a recurring motif in art history, seen in works by Titian, Ingres, and Modigliani. However, this piece’s contemporary execution—fluid, minimalist, and abstracted—ties it more closely to modernist traditions, particularly the gestural energy of Egon Schiele or Matisse’s reclining nudes. The artist’s decision to leave much of the environment abstract enhances the piece’s timeless quality. The figure feels anchored in both a specific space (suggested by the window-like strokes) and an almost dreamlike, universal realm. "Siesta" is a masterful exploration of rest and serenity, demonstrating the artist’s ability to convey mood through form, color, and composition. The elegant simplicity of the figure, combined with the abstracted interior elements, invites the viewer to share in this peaceful moment. Its balance of gestural abstraction and classical themes makes it both timeless and distinctly modern. This piece is a beautiful representation of intimacy, calm, and the universal human experience of seeking rest. Artist Statement "I started by painting interiors, being interested in space and perspective through my studies. These scenes evolved, when I added the human figure. I focused more on the human figure and its relation to the background. The human figure is more present than ever in my paintings now. As a woman artist I’ve been preoccupied with the female form and its imagery. One of my goals was to capture the solitary moments and the nude’s relation to the surrounding space. My interest turned from depicting the space to rendering the atmosphere and the scene as a whole, the feeling a woman adds to the environment: warmth, desire, joy, a feeling of power and control, or the opposite – sadness, despair. Here is a collection of figurative paintings, exploring the nudes in interior spaces, seeing the nudes from my perspective, as a woman artist, considering the physical and spiritual realities of a woman’s body, in a new level of intimacy. My paintings are the opposite of objectifying a woman’s or a man’s anatomy. Painted works, featuring female nudes and a also men nudes...

"Eclectic", nude, pencil and tempera on paper, inspired by Matisse. Part of Nude in Interior series. Female Nude seen by a female artist - female gaze. Size is 27.5x19.5in / 70x50cm ...

"Memories" Original art, signed 100x70cm / 30x27in, ink, graphite, tempera on paper, large size, shipped rolled in a tube. The drawing has 2 wooden pieces attached on the back, up an...

"Private Moment", 39x27.5in / 100x70cm, pencil and ultramarine tempera on paper, inspired by Matisse. Part of Nude in Interior series. Large drawing. Shipped rolled in a tube, from Florida, US. Free shipping for items over $500 with 1stDibs code. "Private Moment" is an exceptional addition to the "Nude in Interior" series, offering a quiet, introspective narrative that exudes grace and serenity. The young female figure, seated on an elegant armchair, is rendered with the artist's signature ultramarine on ochre paper, a pairing that enhances the emotional depth and sophistication of the scene. The interplay between the figure, the armchair, and the background elevates this work to one of both elegance and intimacy. The composition is centered yet fluid, with the figure reclining gracefully within the ornate frame of the armchair. Her pose—relaxed but introspective—creates a sense of harmony between the human form and the architectural rigidity of the chair. The artist’s sweeping, gestural brushstrokes provide movement and energy to the static pose. The curves of the body mirror the chair’s decorative elements, emphasizing the unity between the figure and her environment. The suggestion of a room or interior space in the background, with its gridded linear patterns, contrasts the organic softness of the figure and the chair. This juxtaposition adds visual interest while grounding the scene in a lived, tangible space. The combination of ultramarine blue and warm ochre paper continues to be a defining characteristic of the series, but here it feels especially poignant. The vivid blue of the figure and chair stands out against the muted background, emphasizing their significance while allowing the ochre to imbue the work with warmth and subtlety. The cool blue tones evoke calmness and introspection, while the warm ochre creates a sense of comfort and intimacy. This duality reflects the subject’s private moment—a mix of solitude, peace, and perhaps quiet contemplation. The figure’s pose—sitting with one leg bent and her arms lightly embracing herself—suggests vulnerability and self-reflection. There’s a narrative of quiet introspection, perhaps even self-care, that invites the viewer into a deeply personal moment. The elegant, almost regal armchair adds an element of formality or tradition to the scene. This contrast between the casual nudity of the figure and the structured formality of the chair lends the piece a timeless quality, connecting it to historical depictions of the reclining nude in fine art. The armchair recalls the opulence of classical interiors, reminiscent of Rococo or Baroque aesthetics. However, the loose, gestural style firmly situates the work in a contemporary context, bridging historical traditions with modern expression. Like many works in the series, "Private Moment" explores themes of solitude, introspection, and the intimate relationship between figure and space. The title emphasizes the personal, unguarded nature of the scene, making it feel both universal and deeply individual. "Private Moment" is a poignant, beautifully composed work that encapsulates the themes of intimacy, elegance, and reflection central to the "Nude in Interior" series. The artist’s expert use of ultramarine and ochre, combined with their dynamic gestural technique, creates a scene that feels timeless yet deeply personal. This piece stands as a testament to the artist’s ability to balance classical influences with modern sensibilities, making it a captivating and thought-provoking work. "Private Moment" is an exceptional addition to the "Nude in Interior" series, offering a quiet, introspective narrative that exudes grace and serenity. The young female figure, seated on an elegant armchair, is rendered with the artist's signature ultramarine on ochre paper, a pairing that enhances the emotional depth and sophistication of the scene. The interplay between the figure, the armchair, and the background elevates this work to one of both elegance and intimacy. The composition is centered yet fluid, with the figure reclining gracefully within the ornate frame of the armchair. Her pose—relaxed but introspective—creates a sense of harmony between the human form and the architectural rigidity of the chair. The artist’s sweeping, gestural brushstrokes provide movement and energy to the static pose. The curves of the body mirror the chair’s decorative elements, emphasizing the unity between the figure and her environment. The suggestion of a room or interior space in the background, with its gridded linear patterns, contrasts the organic softness of the figure and the chair. This juxtaposition adds visual interest while grounding the scene in a lived, tangible space. The combination of ultramarine blue and warm ochre paper continues to be a defining characteristic of the series, but here it feels especially poignant. The vivid blue of the figure and chair stands out against the muted background, emphasizing their significance while allowing the ochre to imbue the work with warmth and subtlety. The cool blue tones evoke calmness and introspection, while the warm ochre creates a sense of comfort and intimacy. This duality reflects the subject’s private moment—a mix of solitude, peace, and perhaps quiet contemplation. The figure’s pose—sitting with one leg bent and her arms lightly embracing herself—suggests vulnerability and self-reflection. There’s a narrative of quiet introspection, perhaps even self-care, that invites the viewer into a deeply personal moment. The elegant, almost regal armchair adds an element of formality or tradition to the scene. This contrast between the casual nudity of the figure and the structured formality of the chair lends the piece a timeless quality, connecting it to historical depictions of the reclining nude in fine art. The armchair recalls the opulence of classical interiors, reminiscent of Rococo or Baroque aesthetics. However, the loose, gestural style firmly situates the work in a contemporary context, bridging historical traditions with modern expression. Like many works in the series, "Private Moment" explores themes of solitude, introspection, and the intimate relationship between figure and space. The title emphasizes the personal, unguarded nature of the scene, making it feel both universal and deeply individual. "Private Moment" is a poignant, beautifully composed work that encapsulates the themes of intimacy, elegance, and reflection central to the "Nude in Interior" series. The artist’s expert use of ultramarine and ochre, combined with their dynamic gestural technique, creates a scene that feels timeless yet deeply personal. This piece stands as a testament to the artist’s ability to balance classical influences with modern sensibilities, making it a captivating and thought-provoking work. Artist Statement "I started by painting interiors, being interested in space and perspective through my studies. These scenes evolved, when I added the human figure. I focused more on the human figure and its relation to the background. The human figure is more present than ever in my paintings now. As a woman artist I’ve been preoccupied with the female form and its imagery. One of my goals was to capture the solitary moments and the nude’s relation to the surrounding space. My interest turned from depicting the space to rendering the atmosphere and the scene as a whole, the feeling a woman adds to the environment: warmth, desire, joy, a feeling of power and control, or the opposite – sadness, despair. Here is a collection of figurative paintings, exploring the nudes in interior spaces, seeing the nudes from my perspective, as a woman artist, considering the physical and spiritual realities of a woman’s body, in a new level of intimacy. My paintings are the opposite of objectifying a woman’s or a man’s anatomy. Painted works, featuring female nudes and a also men nudes, in a reversal of the male-artist/female-muse pattern, validate the feminine experience, defining myself through it. I was interested in how one experiences the body in a sensual form, and later focused on my own body, as I experience it myself, looking into the mirror and reconnecting. My work challenges the tradition of the nude by capturing my point of view, the gaze of a female painter, by using photography, drawings, sketches, and painting on canvas, for, both physical and psychological exploration. My art tries to create a visual language for emotion, beauty, feelings of intimacy and in the same time autonomy, captured with paint and vivid colors. My intense interest in color and the gestures of the brush strokes are the means I see and convey the subjects in space, as living, passionate beings." Paula Craioveanu

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