Visible, Invisible, Veiled

'Visible, Invisible, Veiled’ began in 2015 when broken grids appeared unexpectedly in a painting inspired by Virginia Woolf’s first novel ‘The Voyage Out'.

Voyage Out: Land & Sea 100cm x 100cm, oil on canvas, 2015

The ‘Voyage Out: Land and Sea’ led directly to ‘In a state of osmosis’, the first painting exploring natures broken grids.

At the time I wrote in my journal:

'And there is also the thought that the grids represent a veil - allowing glimpses beneath, whilst also distorting and hiding, shading, holding back. Is this something to do with the spirit - which is unseen and yet its presence is felt, known, acknowledged and simultaneously hidden from view?’

In a state of osmosis 100cm x 100cm, oil on canvas, 2015
I am invisible 100cm x 100cm, oil on canvas, 2015
Ruth Dent Moon Dance, acrylic on Moulin de Larroque paper, 84 x
Ruth Dent Charcoal l
Ruth Dent Lifeforce

These paintings celebrate life, nature, the feminine and the spirit, aiming to capture the exhilaration of connection through colour, gesture and material.

Sun on my face
Wind pushing back my hair
I imagine levitating
And then dissipating
Into the green
Of the air
Ruth Dent Sun on my face
Ruth Dent The Crossing Place
Ruth Dent A Glad Day 50 x 50cm acrylic on Moulin de Larroque Paper
Les Libellules, an acrylic on canvas painting by Ruth Dent, inspired by dragonflies on the River Lot. A moving, watery background in greys and pale golds is covered with lines in blue, red and turquoise - the dragonflies, flitting over the surface. On top, broken grids formed from rich gold and copper frame the image. 183 x 183cm
What am I?
Skimming o’er the mirror,
Glimmers of light,
Iridescent rainbows,
Dancing in flight.
Hovering o’er the surface,
Cavorting left and right,
Dazzling jewels,
A beguiling sight.
Skimming o’er the mirror,
Dancing in the light,
Iridescent rainbows,
Glimmering in flight
… a dragonfly
Ruth Dent Elemental 84 x 84cm acrylic on Moulin de Larroque pape
Ruth Dent Emerald Pools

Nature is full of broken grids. Walking in the woods I observe their changing colours and appearance, asking ‘is nature hiding’ and ‘what is nature hiding’, as well as considering whether “a broken grid relates to breaking out?”.

Ruth Dent - Looking back
Pathways
Pathways 2 is a layered acrylic painting with shapes like stepping stones in mottled greys, greens and blues. Inspired by walking in the woods and stepping on ancient stones in cathedrals, temples and stupas. 84 x 84cm on Moulin de Larroque paper
Ruth Dent Escape ll
Ruth Dent Escape l

In these later paintings within the series, pathways appeared: through the forest, around a stupa or within a labyrinth, referencing memories of Ajanta (India) and Chartres (France).