Lisa Charmel

30x40 cm Oil on Wood Panel

The Story Behind the Underwear Paintings (Yes, You Read That Right)

Let’s be honest — sometimes you just want to paint a beautiful pair of knickers.

This series started out inspired by French lingerie brands (you know, all that lace, elegance, and ooh-la-la stuff), but it quickly turned into something deeper... and a bit more personal.

These aren’t just pretty pictures of women in their underthings. They’re little moments of honesty. Snapshots of softness, strength, self-consciousness, and sass — all wrapped up in silk and stitched with stories.

I wanted to paint what it feels like to be a woman, standing in her own skin. Not posing. Not pretending. Just being — boobs, belly rolls, brave heart and all. Some of these women are tugging at a strap, adjusting a bra, covering a bit, revealing a bit. Just like we all do. It’s that quiet, everyday dance between confidence and vulnerability.

There’s a lot of orange in the base layers — not by accident. That punch of colour is the fireunderneath: the stuff we often hide, but can’t quite keep in. It peeks through the calm skin tones, like your soul showing up when you least expect it.

And the hands — they matter. They’re always doing something. Protecting, revealing, fidgeting. To me, they say: “Here I am. A bit messy. A bit magical. And still figuring it out.”

This series is for every woman who’s ever stood in front of a mirror and sighed. For every body that's carried babies, burdens, or just the weight of expectations. For anyone who’s ever wondered if they’re too much or not enough.

Spoiler alert: You’re beautiful. In all your stretchy, stripy, holy-undie glory.