Ishbel Myerscough

Ishbel Myerscough follows along the same themes as Chantal Joffe, focusing on self portraiture, portraits of the other artist as well as each others children. However, the main difference between the two artists is the way in which they worked. Myerscough's method of working was a direct counterpoint to Joffe's. The formers work reminiscent of the way in which Lucian Freud painted his subjects, the self portraits being quite sombre and unforgiving, her own self portraits representing a deep self loathing. Myerscough painted in a very deliberate and painstaking way, each stroke of the brush that appears casual , is in fact carefully considered.

SHe works on a relatively small scale, often quite miniature and with a clear and present image in mind as she works. In her watercolour drawings, it appears as if Myerscough draws influence from the way in which Schiele portrays the figure. Most of Myerscough's work appears to be either oil on canvas or board and watercolour on paper.

Source: 'Friendship Portraits: Chantal Joffe and Ishbel Myerscough' 700/FRI (CAT)