STRIKE A POSE
Fashion photography is the inspiration behind Runway Gallery artist GG Stokes’ stunning, textural oil paintings
GG STOKES grew up in the Cotswolds and moved to the capital to study at the London College of Fashion. She pursued a successful career in fashion styling, photography and creative direction, working on fashion shoots for various glossy magazines. Now a talented artist, her connection to this elegant imagery continues to influence her beautiful oil paintings.
How did your style develop?
I’ve been creative for as long as I can remember. I did fine art at school and was taught how to paint but I’ve always been obsessed with images of all kinds, particularly photography. I’m interested in the past and the visual documentation of it, whether that’s images of David Bowie and Elizabeth Taylor from the 70s or war photography by Lee Miller. My love of fashion photography was always about the concept and creation, so I’m happy to be painting again, it feels much more ‘hands on’.
How do you choose which images to work with?
The images I seek to paint are always about a feeling I need to assimilate.
What’s the process?
I spend a day shooting options and lighting them, before I edit and manipulate the image. I cover the canvas with gesso; it’s a rougher finish than others would choose. I spent many years as a sign writer, on the side, often in St Ives, Cornwall, painting onto walls and pieces of wood, so I like texture and prefer it to a smooth canvas. I do the underpainting, usually in black, then start on the figurative work. There are layers to the paintings as there is typography that I’ll hand-paint on top and then wash over. There may even be another level over that, where I put plastic in the image or a light bounce or shine off the pages.
What’s your career highlight?
Selling my first painting within 24 hours of joining Runway Gallery.
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