Sharon McPhee, 'Mantlepiece'

I make small intense paintings, mainly of women, reflecting states of psychological tension or unease. I am deeply interested in the feminine uncanny.

If I get a ‘good painting day’ two things happen. I am finding that through translating the images into paint things are revealed that I don’t control and don’t expect. That’s the first thing ~when those sneaky truths come through and show me things I didn’t know. The second good thing happens when the balance between control and chance works out and the paint holds onto its material nature while still manifesting something entirely intangible. I aim for fluidity and economy in the paint handling.