Brooke Summers

Figure drawing and painting are my main interests. My concentration on the figure has become focused acutely on female bodies, archetypes, and the female psyche. Feminist art has inspired me conceptually. Greek sculpture has stimulated me technically. The way that feminist artists interpret art through their personal experiences in opposition to this male-dominated field fuels my inspiration. The love of detail of the human body, which is shown in ancient Greek sculpture, is something I am drawn to. In my latest series, I have been inspired by photographic nudes with various textures/colors layered over them. I am attracted to the way that these textures/ colors can alter the mood of the figure, creating a certain ambience. For example, my latest painting, called ‘Remembering Divinity’ is a female nude whose color fades from purple, to neutral orange to brilliant orange. She is in the process of pushing herself up off of the ground. I want the mood to be emotional and ethereal, like she is manifesting the environment around her. I also wanted there to be a contrast of the sharpness of the crystals versus the palpable soft texture of her body. For me, paintings like this one are all about contrasting colors, textures and finally the contrast of the realism of the figure and the surreal space around it. Additionally, it is about highlighting the imperfect beauty of the female form. In my earlier series, I reflect on female archetypes throughout human history such as the Muse, the Succubus and the Amazon. I considered the way they are often objectified and demonized, thought of as an idea, rather than a person. This concept is meant to reveal the person behind the stereotype. The Succubus is often thought of as a demonic seductress; my painting obliterates this perception by depicting her vulnerability. In the case of the Amazon woman, they are often considered masculine and intimidating, but the painting exposes her natural beauty, while still portraying her as androgynous. As for the Muse, I illustrate her as if she is in a shop window, being displayed as an object. My aim is to underline and reverse womanly stereotypes through a feminist lens. Overall, my endeavor is to juxtapose the Ancient Greek observation of the body with Feminist ideals and statements. My latest work has been more about the realism and flawed exquisiteness of the feminine body, which evokes certain emotions by way of use of color and exploration of surreal environments.