LOU GALVIN

My work consists of oil paintings depicting scenes from ancient Greek myths. I work using the 'Flemish technique',  which involves first creating a 'dead layer' of brown paint to get the correct tonal values, and then building up colour in several thin layers. This technique lets me achieve subtle colour differences and adds a sense of depth into the painting.

My work is heavily influenced by the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood painters both in subject matter and style of painting. They often painted subjects taken straight from medieval literature. Likewise, my work is very literature-based, though it mainly features stories taken from ancient mythology. I choose to depict stories taken from Greek mythology, because of personal interest, and the relevance and resonation these myths and characters have for our culture and audience. I want to use the themes prevalent in the original myths to explore contemporary political movements. For instance, my paintings are often inspired by feminist issues, such as reproductive rights, as well as LGBT rights advocacy. Rather than doing a 'modern retelling' of myths, my work aims to explore different aspects of the narrative through the lens  of modern political standpoints.