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Profile - Emma Middleton
| Emma Middleton (Schilte) expressed an innate interest in art from
an early age and enjoyed an artistically orientated upbringing, greatly
inspired by the artwork of her maternal Grandmother Linda Armstrong,
and of her paternal Great Grandfather Bernardus Schilte de Veldt.
After graduating from the Australian Ballet School in 1990, Emma became a
soloist with The Vienna Ballet, 'Badnerballet der Stadtheatre Wien'.
Emma Middleton returned to Australia in 1993 becoming the principal
of Brighton Dance Academy. She designed and painted 12-metre by
6-metre backdrop canvasses used by the Academy for various Performances.
Emma was also the theatrical costume designer and creator. During
this period she continued developing her paintings of the human
figure, eventually pursuing her passion for art becoming full time
professional.
Emma Middleton's work focuses on interpretation and expression
of the sensuous qualities of the human form. Predominantly Emma
works in pastel; a medium that has enabled her to develop a unique
style characterised by a sublime velvety texture and exquisite contrasts.
In July 2001 Emma Middleton was recognised by the Pastel Society
of Victoria as featured artist. Following on from previous highly
successful exhibitions at Manyung Gallery Victoria, gaining widespread
media coverage, Emma's works were again exhibited and eagerly sought
during April 2002.
Emma Middleton's paintings continue to be highly collectible and
are included in various corporate and private art investment collections.
Additionally, clients from various Australian states have commissioned
work.
A resident of the Sunshine Coast hinterland, the work of Emma
Middleton is on display at selected prominent art galleries including
Main Street Gallery Montville, Gadfly Gallery Perth and Eltham Wiregrass
Gallery Victoria.
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Artist's Statement
Painting allows me to enter an inner world, where there are no confines,
and no restrictions, and where the absence of congruity makes everything
possible. I always strive for creative expression, and painting gives
ultimate freedom to explore the nuances of human communication with
great variation.
The rich form of the body offers vast compositional possibilities
of shape, form, colour and, subsequently, emotion. The figure is an
ideal instrument to explore the reflection and absorption of light,
and its contrasting partner, shadow. The form of the figure beautifully
reveals the warm source of light, and perfectly moulds cast shadows
on to the contours of the surface they land upon.
Previously, as a professional classical ballet dancer, we spent years
of training to refine our movements, with the ultimate aim of expressing
a feeling to the audience, without the indication of physical effort.
For this reason and the innate connection dancers develop with their
body language, I predominantly use a dancer for my model. She being
a former dancer allows me to portray the more womanly female form.
The question was once asked of me by art journalist Roger Taylor;
"Why do you paint nudes, in particular the female nude?"
I feel the image of the nude is to be celebrated, initiating seraphic
enjoyment and a wealth of physical and spiritual communication. The
nude is often provocative, yet poignantly focuses on the core of humanity.
When creating a painting, I focus on allowing the instinctive emotion
to surface - to draw forth a meaningful connection between viewer and
painting.
Art is a chance to reflect, to see, to appreciate, and to care.
Emma Middleton |
Copyright © 2002 Main Street Gallery
