Title: Figurative Sketch
Artist: Sonya Radan
Date: 1990
Medium: Watercolour
Dimensions: 37 x 28 cm
Condition: A page from a sketch pad with some tears; dated lower right

Description:

"Figurative Sketch" by Sonya Radan is a striking composition featuring highly expressive figures. Dominating the foreground is the bust of a female figure, her downward gaze imbued with a mysterious, melancholic aura. In the background, a row of similar figures emerges, their bodies defined by multiple fluid lines that create a sense of movement and surreal expressiveness.

The use of a contrasting palette of violet and green enhances the overall moodiness and mystery of the piece. This chromatic choice not only sets a distinctive tone but also adds depth to the narrative, subtly provoking the viewer to delve into the emotional undercurrents of the sketch.

About the Artist:

Sonya Radan was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. She earned her MA diploma in fine art and exhibited extensively across the former Yugoslavia and Europe. In 1991, Radan and her family fled the Balkan war, during which she lost her country, all her paintings, and her career as an artist and art teacher in Sarajevo.

Despite these challenges, Radan never ceased painting and believing in her art. She resettled in London, where she continued to exhibit and explore various art mediums, including painting on wood, textile, and glass, as well as woodcarving, drawing, and collage. A member of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Art Society, she continues to paint and exhibit both in the UK and across major cities in the former Yugoslavia.

Radan has also worked as an art therapist in the UK and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Recently, she was selected as one of the leading artists in the global Eye Programme, developed by START.art, with her work scheduled to be showcased at the Saatchi Gallery in London.