Christine Ellingham
Benaoján Confronted
Benaoján, (Málaga), is where I live and these portraits are of the people I see every day.
This community, possibly like every 'Pueblo Blanco' in Andalucía, is tightly knit, made up of a few, very large families. I am constantly amazed and fascinated at who is related to whom and can see likenesses from the elderly to the children, and so, over the six years that I've lived here I have begun to piece them all together.
Little by little, I hope to document, pictorially, the faces, primarily for my own personal record. There is no order or pattern at the moment, I have to catch whoever is available when they have time to spare and when the light is good.
What you see here is a collection of the first ten. I would like to paint at least twenty five and display them as a square block, touching like tiles. Eventually, I hope to add even more, there will always be yet another irresistible face and so the project will grow and grow!
This work is not for sale. The faces are known only to themselves and their village.
These are ordinary folk who work hard, play hard and have, in the case of the older ones, come through a lot. They are open hearted, direct and from day one of our being here, Ron, my partner, and I, have been welcomed, advised, fed and entertained. This multiple portrait is designed to show the inordinate fondness and admiration I have for my Benaoján neighbours.
Each portrait is 30cm square, painted on canvas in acrylic.
Christine Ellingham studied illustration at Hornsey College of Art in the 1960s. She has worked as a press illustrator for over thirty years and is now retired. In the 1970s she began to suffer from, Focal Distonia, in her right hand. For a while her work suffered but, as her life depended on it, she learned to use her left hand and as far as painting, drawing and writing are concerned, she has been left handed ever since.
Her work can also be seen in the bar areas of, Hotel Molino del Santo and Hotel Molino del Puente.
The latest added work is from her exhibition in Grazalema with the Artistandalucia group.
Benaoján, (Málaga), is where I live and these portraits are of the people I see every day.
This community, possibly like every 'Pueblo Blanco' in Andalucía, is tightly knit, made up of a few, very large families. I am constantly amazed and fascinated at who is related to whom and can see likenesses from the elderly to the children, and so, over the six years that I've lived here I have begun to piece them all together.
Little by little, I hope to document, pictorially, the faces, primarily for my own personal record. There is no order or pattern at the moment, I have to catch whoever is available when they have time to spare and when the light is good.
What you see here is a collection of the first ten. I would like to paint at least twenty five and display them as a square block, touching like tiles. Eventually, I hope to add even more, there will always be yet another irresistible face and so the project will grow and grow!
This work is not for sale. The faces are known only to themselves and their village.
These are ordinary folk who work hard, play hard and have, in the case of the older ones, come through a lot. They are open hearted, direct and from day one of our being here, Ron, my partner, and I, have been welcomed, advised, fed and entertained. This multiple portrait is designed to show the inordinate fondness and admiration I have for my Benaoján neighbours.
Each portrait is 30cm square, painted on canvas in acrylic.
Christine Ellingham studied illustration at Hornsey College of Art in the 1960s. She has worked as a press illustrator for over thirty years and is now retired. In the 1970s she began to suffer from, Focal Distonia, in her right hand. For a while her work suffered but, as her life depended on it, she learned to use her left hand and as far as painting, drawing and writing are concerned, she has been left handed ever since.
Her work can also be seen in the bar areas of, Hotel Molino del Santo and Hotel Molino del Puente.
The latest added work is from her exhibition in Grazalema with the Artistandalucia group.
