Ruth and Sylvia discuss their special relationship -artist and model...
Ruth Geldard is a portrait painter and Syliva Spall is her work in progress - they were strangers before the painting began. After a year of spending hours together they've got to know each other well, and they'd be the first to admit that the relationship between artist and model isn't always an easy one.
Sylvia admits that anyone who meets her will know her whole life story within an hour, probably less. Sylvia was completely flattered when Ruth asked if she could paint her. Sitting for Ruth, however, was another story altogether.
Ruth met Sylvia when she was demonstrating for a paint company in a local art shop, "Sylvia has such a presence about her - very strong. The people I’m interested in painting, I’m often probably a tiny bit afraid of - that’s what makes them interesting. But Sylvia's bark is always worse than her bite…"
Ruth describes Sylvia's approach to her personal appearance as very disciplined, "She urges me to be too," she says, "she’s always telling me to wear lipstick - I used to be quite hurt but I’ve learnt to go and put the lipstick on…"
Syliva - "She has the control in the painting, and I know that - but I think I have the control with the yapping… We got to know each other quite well, because I sat for her for four hours. I can sit for four hours without moving my body, but not my mouth - out pours everything, and I so nosy. I not only tell everyone about myself, I want to know about them as well. But I found Ruth extremely sensitive about that.
Ruth - She’s helped me to reveal things to myself and they’re not always easy things to cope with. She makes comments about how I look, particularly my weight. For me, drawing is emotional; it’s much more about feeling and revealing how that person affects me I suppose.
Sylvia - "I used to love the way Ruth was going away with her charcoal. She was like a little girl - so excited. I was really pleased - I thought this is lovely. You feel she’s delving into your very soul. I mean you’re sitting there, scrutinising you for hours and hours … screaming with excitement every now and then… After about 4 hours, I'dget up and look at it and think "Oh my god! Do I really look like that!"
Ruth - "In every relationship there must be some sort of friction, and there is in ours. Sometimes I upset her - I don’t mean to - I go ages without ringing her, and she gets quite cross with me. I’m highly sensitive to any kind of criticism, and she’s taught me that people say things and they may not mean them in the way I take them. She helps me cope with myself better.."
Sylvia, "I’ve learnt to think before I open my mouth! And Ruth has become less sensitive because of me."
Ruth, "I’ve never met anyone like Sylvia before in my life…"
