Written by Bill Jackson, Leamington resident and editor of Artspace
Dominica Vaughan was born Birmingham and studied Fine Art at Coventry University (1990-1993) as a mature student.
Leamington winner
| Ìý |  | Untitled (1999)
Leamington Spa Open Winner 1999
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Since graduating, Dominica has continued her artistic practice exhibiting widely across the West Midlands region and was one of the First Prize winners of the Leamington Spa Open in 1999.
Commenting on the painting, Stephen Blake from artspace said:
"At first sight, a primordial soup of merging colour, greens and reds and shades of darkness, all merged expertly together into a fascinating texture of brush movement and undulating tone. VaughanÃs use of colour is superb -another prizewinner here. Out of this incredible colour activity emerges the torso of a woman, full and sensuous."
Dominica opened her studio to the general public in the Warwickshire Artsweek 2002, with all her paintings for sale.
For more information on artsweek see the links on the left.
Beyond Skin series
| Ìý |  | Beyond Skin 1
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Dominica works on a series of paintings rather than an individual one off.
Here she describes her new series of paintings and drawings, Beyond Skin:
"This work deals with the duality of the personality and its multiple layers.
"The human condition is complex and who we are changes at various stages in our lives. We are constantly in a process of change even when we feel blocked or trapped that is usually the time that fundamental changes are taking place within us.
| Ìý |  | Colour Study 2002 (Beyond Skin 1)
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"This ongoing experience always catches us out and then you think, 'Here we go again!'
"You have to accept what is happening by discarding the old skin and emerging ready to push yourself forward towards an unknown territory that is always there to be discovered and you know you have to go there."
Inner Rhythm series
| Ìý |  | Inner Rhythm V111
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In the work Inner Rhythm series Dominica explored the human form further and it was beginning to emerge from the visceral earthy layers of paint.
David Phillips from Artspace reviewed the work:
"VaughanÃs paintings take as their point of departure the relationship of the body to music, stemming from sources outside Europe.
"This music from the East and from Africa has a different tempo and verve from that of the West and the artist has submerged herself in this rhythm. So from this submission these images have sprung and yet they seem to go beyond this in their exploration of the response of the body to sound."
Resurrection series
| Ìý |  | Head I - Resurrection series
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More recently in the Resurrection series, the bodies and heads are more obvious, emerging from a dark background.
In her Artist's statement in 2001, Dominica wrote:
"The work is not intended to be religious, although I have, among other artists, been particularly inspired by Piero Della Francesca's Resurrection (c.1463) and CaravaggioÃs Death of the Virgin (c.1605).
"Experiences in life can bury you for a time but there is always hope of regeneration and growth. If you feel half dead then you are also half alive."
Pete McCarthy, from Artspace said:
"Dominica Vaughans' Head 1, a modern Ophelia, dispenses with the fancy trimmings of its cloying Victorian counterpart to make a more powerful point."
Current exhibition
Read about Dominica Vaughans' exhibition at The Gallery in Earlsdon by following the link on the left.
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