The Discovery of Baby Moses Oil on canvas 85 x 250 cm
Kin
Charcoal, ink & pigment on paper (map) 74 x 45 cm
Boy holding his Cat Acrylic on paper 49 x 36 cm
Mountain Girl with her Horse Ink & watercolour on paper 36.5 x 37 cm
Madonna and Child
Watercolour on paper (map)
25.4 x 19 cm
Kin – Five Children in a Landscape Oil on canvas 71 x 127 cm
“Protecting, till the danger past, with human love” (Self Portrait) Oil on canvas 72 x 62 cm
During the autumn of 2017, Sula embarked on a series of paintings which had been on her mind for a while. These works are the became a series with the working title of Kin.
They are about the current displacement of many people and the sadness of being away from one’s country and former security. The struggle to survive and protect one’s kin is universal. Children still play, whether they find themselves in a camp or on their own street.
The catalyst for this series was a self portrait (see above) she made in the spring of 2017. This picture was selected for the Exhibition of the Ruth Borchard Self Portrait Prize 2017 and exhibited at Piano Nobile, King’s Place, London.
Kin Oil on canvas 73 x 92 cm
Kin Study Charcoal, ink & pastel on paper 24 x 19 cm
Three boys with football Oil on canvas 76 x 91 cm
Boy at Water’s Edge Charcoal, ink & pastel on paper 24 x 19 cm
Four Children with Tyres Oil on canvas 71 x 107 cm
Young Boy holding Small Bird Watercolour on paper 22 x 16.5 cm
Two Young Goats Charcoal, ink & pastel on paper 19 x 24 cm
Kin – Two Girls with Three Goats 130 x 107 cm
In 2018 Mandell’s Gallery in Norwich mounted a solo exhibition of new work by artist Sula Rubens.
The show comprised a series of paintings and drawings entitled “Kin”.
The primary focus of “Kin” is people. Although there is no direct reference in these works to current issues of the displacement and suffering of refugees, some of the people Sula paints are displaced, struggling to survive and protect their kin. Some are also making music, tending animals, sleeping, laughing or playing as people do wherever they happen to be. Children play football whether they are in a refugee camp or in their own street.
In Sula’s paintings and drawings the people are transient figures moving through spaces she creates for them on canvas, maps or book pages. In some pieces, sky, land, sea, maps or buildings show through their painted and drawn forms. They are portrayed outside and always relating to one another by talking, laughing or hand gestures. In each picture, there is one figure, even if it is a goat, who looks directly at the viewer.
The drawing is strong. The paint is laid lightly, just enough to convey their presence. The viewer can see just enough. There is no directly explained or implied back story. We view these people as they are at this moment. Their dignified presence in these paintings and drawings is at once moving and life-affirming.
Boy holding his Cat Ink, pastel & watercolour on paper 40 x 37 cm
Boy with Ball I Charcoal, ink & pastel on paper 24 x 19 cm
Boy with Ball II Charcoal, ink and pastel on paper 24 x 19 cm
Boy with Goat Oil on paper 41 x 54 cm
Children with Sofa Oil on canvas 71 x 127 cm
Seated Boy with Young Child Oil on paper 53 x 36 cm
Boy in Doorway Pastel, ink & watercolour on paper 32 x 26 cm
Girl with Horse Ink, watercolour & acrylic on paper 36.5 x 37 cm
Young Boy holding a Small Bird Watercolour & acrylic on paper 22 x 16 cm
Fadi holding his cat Aleppo Acrylic on paper 49 x 36 cm
For more images about the mural below , visit the post entitled SHORE FLIGHT on the Home Page.
Recently completed commission SHORE FIGHT – MURAL 4 x 1.6 metres approximately
Cellist Study ink & soft pastel on paper
Cellist Study on sheet music charcoal & ink on paper
The Elias Quartet in Rehearsal charcoal on paper 29 x 40 cm
Two Musicians (Elias Quartet) charcoal & ink on paper 33 x 24.5 cm
This self-portrait has been selected for the exhibition of the Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Prize 2017 at Piano Nobile Kings Place, London
18th May – 22 nd September
SELF PORTRAIT oil & ink on canvas 72 x 62 cm
ELIAS QUARTET – Martin Saving & Marie Bitloch
Martin Saving of the Elias Quartet ink & soft pastel on paper 40 x 41 cm
HARBOUR SAIL collage, pastel and charcoal on paper 24 x 16 cm
SEA DAY pastel & Hammerite on paper (calendar page)
Sula is participating in a collaborative piece to be shown at the Hamburg Altonale 2016 – The Sea Has No Boundaries, Stories of Travellers and Dreamers
Click on link below
FIGURE WITH BALL ink, pastel & watercolour on paper 16 x 11 cm
PLAYER WITH BALL oil on canvas 40 x 30 cm
BOWLER STUDY oil on paper 20 x 29 cm
FIGURE STUDY oil on paper
PLAYER oil on canvas 70 x 60 cm
BATSMAN STUDY oil on paper
PLAYER oil on canvas 75 x 65 cm
MICHAELHOUSE CHORALE
watercolour, ink, acrylic on paper
41 x 49 cm
In 2014, Sula Rubens was appointed the first Artist in Residence at the Michaelhouse in Trinity St. Cambridge. Visit Residencies page or click on the Michaelhouse post on the Homepage for more images and information.
MICHAELHOUSE ALTAR
collage, Indian ink, watercolour on paper 32.5 x 24.5 cm
MICHAELHOUSE INTERIOR WITH 2 FIGURES watercolour, Indian ink on paper 28 x 25 cm
MICHAELHOUSE STUDY
charcoal, Indian ink on paper 30 x 42 cm
MICHAELHOUSE STUDY Indian ink, watercolour on paper 57 x 44 cm
MICHAELHOUSE STUDY, CHARLES I watercolour, Indian ink on paper 23.5 x 16 cm
PIANIST STUDY
Indian ink, pastel, charcoal on paper
17 x 42 cm
During the past 3 years Sula has worked with the cricket figures alongside the musicians at Potton Hall, where she is Artist in Residence. The cricket figures became interesting as she began to draw at matches. At first these outdoor moving figures seemed to inhabit a completely other world to that of the interior of the concert hall. However, the batsman walks to the crease anticipating a performance much as the soloist steps onto the stage to take his place with his instrument. To see images of the Potton Hall musicians, go to the Residencies page.
JEAN-EFFLAM BAVOUZET IN REHEARSAL 2012 charcoal on paper 40 x 50 cm
JEAN-EFFLAM BAVOUZET ink & acrylic on paper
FIELDER pastel, Indian ink on paper
The wicket is a stage where each man has a position and a role to perform. The movements of the players and umpires, seen from a distance are emphasized by the contrast of the white against the green.
BOWLER charcoal on paper 60 x 50 cm
Click on images to enlarge
OUT charcoal, pastel on paper 16 x 11 cm
BATSMAN acrylic, pastel on paper 36 x 29 cm
BOWLER charcoal on paper 60 x 50 cm
VILLAGE MATCH STUDY charcoal, pastel on paper
To see more pictures click on flickr
Your cricket pictures look great! Lovely to see them on your site. I so enjoyed it when you talked to me about how they came into being. Much love xxx
Saw you at cricket today! As I paint and sculpt, the person I was with told me to check your site……..I find it interesting that you use paper with oil, something I have tried and found pleasing. Really like your style.