Above: Felicity McQueen, Nest, 2021. Pencil on paper and digital painting. Limited edition fine art print. 29.7 x 42cm. $300. Courtesy: the artist.
Almost fae-like in appearance, the figure in Nest by New Zealand-born, Western Australia-based artist Felicity McQueen quietly contemplates her audience, a bird’s nest perched precariously on her head. Nest is one of a series of works by the artist that focuses on the female form, juxtaposing the exacting realism of her pencil work with digital interventions to highlight the sitter’s power. “Central to these works are female subjects who serve as conduits for feminine strength,” says McQueen, who embraces many aspects of femininity in this work. Bold, self-assured and relaxed in the face of the artist’s scrutiny, the woman is also fragile and delicate, her features delineated by McQueen’s careful hand. The figure is adorned with a whirl of twigs protecting three tiny eggs, executed digitally to elevate them from physical form to allegory. They become a symbol of growth, and the courage to emerge into the world from a comfort zone. The artist accompanies this work with a quote from Mary Ann Evans, also known as George Elliot, who says, “It is never too late to become the person you always thought you could be”. McQueen’s Nest is a testament to aspects of strength, and the aesthetic potential of intertwining traditional mediums with digital art.