Charlotte Houlihan - Bio

Bio

Charlotte Houlihan is an expressive figurative painter whose work is defined by playful exploration of colour and lusciousness of paint. She is a mother to two children in a neurodivergent household where she juggles her roles as artist, tutor and primary carer. Although varied in execution Charlotte’s work is rooted in observation from life. People, the figure and human nature are important themes. Charlotte’s work has been included in the ING Discerning Eye and The New English Art Club exhibitions and she was awarded the first prize NEAC Scholarship for 2024 - 2025. She is a member of Oxford Art Society.

Artist Statement

Painting, drawing and making has always felt a natural way to communicate. A place to explore and experiment, to indulge curiosity, to share a perspective. I tend to paint what interests me. It’s a deeply selfish process. I need to feel a connection of sorts to a subject. I try to follow my instincts and let the work lead me, working spontaneously, enjoying the movement of the paint so that mistakes become part of the story. I love the process of translating three dimensions to two and the truths that arise from making those observations. I am fascinated by people - painting is as much about understanding human expression and interaction as anything else. Working from life has always been important, there’s a tension you can feel while you’re painting and I enjoy losing myself in the unpredictability of a painting put together in the moment. However, I hate my work to stand still, and the pandemic liberated me from what had become a rather stagnant way of working. My sketchbook is my companion to all my classes and is filled with quick studies of the model, my students and surroundings. From these small beginnings collages and paintings evolve and I lose myself translating one to the other and back again, each step moving me a little further from reality and into the unknown. A place that is uncomfortable and exciting in equal measure.