By Isabel Rock
Located in Norfolk, GB
Isabel Rock is a creator of contemporary fairy tales. A graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, her work is an explosion of strange occurrences while a surreal narrative takes the audience on a journey into the imagination.
In October 2023 Isabel won the Evelyn Williams Drawing Award at the Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize. Known as the UK’s most prestigious annual open exhibition for drawing; part of the prize is a solo show at Hastings Contemporary, scheduled for 2024.
Whilst Isabel always has a tale to tell for each of her images, you may or may not choose to go on the journey with her or you may indeed have a different story, one of your own that jumps off the page at you, that that you decide to follow.
Artwork Details:
Horse of Hope, 122x152cm, Collaged woodblock print, acrylic ink on Somerset satin paper, 2023
Artwork Provenance: from the Artist Studio
photo credits, Isabel working, black and white shots, James Brown
In Isabel's own words:
Horse of Hope
The world had become a sad grey place, mud, empty plains with bleak, loveless sky as far as the eye could see. It seemed that all was lost of the old world.
Until one day a whisper began on the breeze, so quiet that you could hardly hear it. But it grew stronger and stronger until the trembled with the sound.
'The horse of hope is coming, the horse of hope is coming!'
The horse of hope had arrived, its dainty hooves tapping along the way. Where there had been nothing but emptiness the horse trod and from its feet sprung new life and hope. The world became a lush carpet under its footsteps. Up sprang greenery, pushing its tendrils to the sky. Blue irises reached out their twisted delicate petals welcoming the new life in. Strong, dark foliage grew and grew, and with this creatures began to return from their hiding places. Out from rocks and stones they came, for there was hope once again and the world buzzed with new life.
*Please note we are happy to ship this work rolled in an art tube. Whilst the work is on heavy duty art paper and mixed media, the artist is happy that the painting will be fine rolled in a tube. This is a more cost effective and environmentally sound method of shipping. Shipping via this method is free.
About Isabel Rock and her work:
Taking inspiration from Japanese woodblock prints and Indian miniature painting Rock has developed a unique collage technique that combines bold structures with large-scale woodblock prints and intricate detailing. The subject is a grand mixture of humour, drama, hidden morals, fanciful characters, modern culture, mythical beings and fantastical situations.
Rock creates a world that pulls you in and demands your attention. Quality of line is paramount, the drawings are created using a dipping pen and acrylic ink. An essential tool is a squirrel...
Category
2010s Contemporary Animal Paintings
MaterialsPaint, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Archival Paper, Pen
