The issue of mental health has come to the fore in society. Marcia’s work channels into to that theme. Negative life events presents us all with a plethora of emotional responses. Marcia draws on her own personal experiences of bereavement, divorce and domestic conflict in order to explore feelings of loss, fear, frustration, confusion, anxiety, the effects of societal pressure, and embracing ones perceived difference. For her, the issue is finding pathways to manage these responses in a way that doesn’t damage, but strengthens resolve. Giving theses emotions a tangible manifestation that acknowledges and gives weight to their existence, is a positive first step.
Marcia uses the figurative self-image as a vehicle. She uses strong compositional design by playing with dramatic angle and foreshortening to capture intense emotions and create a narrative that resonates with the viewer. Her materials are predominately oil on canvas or board. She uses brushes, pallet knives and even her fingers to layer paint. Her pallet is consistent, with a focus on reflective colour illuminated over local tone. Her treatment of flesh is influenced by German Expressionist artists such as Lucian Freud and Jenny Savile with a nod to the abstraction of Francis Bacon’s self-portraits, inspiring the creation of strong, uncompromising images.