Ready & Standing | Original Art | Illustration
Medium:
• Mixed media – Ink, Watercolour, Acrylic
Style:
• Expressive, raw, emotive
• A blend of abstract and figurative elements
• A striking contrast between light and shadow
Techniques:
• Layered brushwork to create depth and movement
• A combination of bold dark forms against a soft, flowing background
• Gestural strokes that suggest both strength and vulnerability
Palette:
• Deep blacks, soft greys, and muted highlights
• A balance between dark and light, mirroring the duality of emotions and self-discovery
Key Features:
• A visual representation of inner strength, vulnerability, and the readiness to step forward
• The interplay of shadows and forms evokes the journey of confronting fears, embracing self-truth, and standing firm in one’s identity
• The figures appear both grounded and in motion, symbolising the balance between stillness and action, fear and courage
Description:
Created during Chapter 2 (2020 - 2023), this piece is part of the Versions of Robert Collection—a deeply personal body of work reflecting my journey through my mother’s stroke, dissociation, and eventual dementia. This period of my life involved immense inner soul work, each piece acting as a page in a diary, accompanied by a poem or story.
“Ready & Standing” captures the moment of presence, the act of being here, ready, aware, and vulnerable. It is about stepping forward despite fear, holding space for truth, and embracing the unknown. The figures stand with intention—whether waiting, reflecting, or preparing to move into a new space, they embody the tension between stillness and action.
This piece invites the viewer to consider:
• What does it mean to be truly present?
• Can we be both afraid and brave at the same time?
• What fears do we carry, and how do we release them?
The fluidity of the strokes suggests movement within the stillness—perhaps a conversation, a moment of understanding, or an unspoken dialogue between past and present. The contrast between light and shadow mirrors the balance of strength and vulnerability, control and surrender, truth and uncertainty.
A piece that embodies the courage to stand, to feel, to love, and to face the unknown. “Ready & Standing” is an invitation to embrace the beauty of vulnerability and the power of presence.
Details:
- Size: A4 Illustration
- Material: Mixed media on paper
- Unframed
- Original, signed by the artist
- Limited Edition Giclée Prints Available – 150 prints total across three sizes, including the original size
