Sasha Harding

To me, painting is solely about capturing a specific moment in time, like a snapshot. It is the process of condensing a scene to its most essential elements. In a potentially unique manner for a painter, I write down words and create a title before the accompanying forms develop, establishing a strong narrative to guide my work.

After that, I will direct my attention to my sketchbook, where I will meticulously design the arrangement and imagine the characters. This way, when the moment arrives to transfer the paint onto the canvas, the image will already be fully developed. The final stage of the process, which is the actual painting, is the enjoyable part.

I solely use three particular paint colours, as well as white. This restricted range of colours enables me to focus on content and form rather than colour.

In all my work, my intention is to find a middle ground between the contemplative and the lighthearted, the grave and the ridiculous, infusing quirkiness and humour in precise proportions. The resulting juxtapositions mirror my personality quite well.

Being inclined towards maintaining a healthy equilibrium between work and personal life, I invest a significant amount of time either on, in, or by the sea, frequently coming back to the studio fuelled by something or someone I encountered during a fishing or kayaking excursion. After refreshing myself, I will begin the endlessly fulfilling process once more.