A drenching can bring about different emotions, from feeling refreshed when stepping into a shower to the shock of being caught out by a sudden and torrential downpour.
Francesca Leone is an artist who is experimenting with this notion within her latest set of portraits. Her collection of large scale close-ups shows the full range of emotions from shock to gratitude. Considering the size of her works, the detail is impressive and Leone perfectly captures the moment of impact between her model's head and the water.
It's rare for a painting to capture a split second moment as well as a photograph but she manages to recreate the sensation in the viewer's mind, with the darkened backgrounds further enhancing the scene. There are approximately 25 works on display, and though they follow the same theme, the artist has done a great job of filling her works with drama and intensity.
Francesca Leone: Beyond the Water is on at the Opera Gallery, 134 New Bond Street, W1S 2TF until 12 October.
