Artwork Description
A submerged figure drifts beneath a shimmering veil of reflected light in this atmospheric print by Kristen McClarty. Seen through the constantly changing surface of the water, the artist's own body appears fragmented and reassembled by ripples, currents and reflections, creating a dreamlike sense of weightlessness. The title, Up, Up and Away, hints at both physical buoyancy and the feeling of surrendering to a moment of quiet escape.
Printed as a screen print from a hand-carved woodblock on Fabriano Rosaspina paper, the work continues McClarty's exploration of water as both subject and metaphor. Soft blush tones, silvery greys and delicate linear patterns evoke sunlight moving across the water's surface, while the partially obscured figure introduces a personal and contemplative narrative. Hovering between self-portraiture and abstraction, the print invites viewers to consider themes of freedom, stillness and connection to the natural world.
Keywords: submerged figure, figurative print, water reflections, contemporary printmaking, self-portrait
