A new theme for me – Fish! And it makes sense as I live only a mile away from Newlyn, a famous fishing port here in Cornwall. I looked at work by Braque and William Scott as a starting point and then made a trip to Newlyn where I bought 2 mackerel to sketch and use in my own work. Here are some of the results:
Phew, what a year we are all going through. Sometimes it’s really hard to find the positives but the sight of spring flowers bursting through the gloom is a good reminder that things will change. The sunshine yellow daffodils and narcissi are a lovely shot of colour, I’ve placed them throughout my house to lift our spirits and of course to paint. They’re another favourite subject. Yellow is such a gorgeous and joyous colour.
I was very drawn to the pink label on this local roadside flower stall.
The one above is available at White Space Art.
Stripes are another recurring theme within my work. I love the direct simplicity of a stripe and how something so uncomplicated can bring added interest to a painting plus it’s also a chance to play around with colour, scale and balance.
I generally combine just two colours. Here are a handful:
Some of these are available from my online shop, so take a look!
Like many artists I have various subjects that I return to in my work and one of them is pears. I love the shape, simplicity and familiarity of them and the fact they are autumnal, English, shapely and homely. Other people like them too as I’ve sold quite a few originals featuring this humble fruit. I’m moving onto figs next, an equally appealing fruit.
I tend to create collections of work using one theme at the time. Recently it’s been ‘grapes’. It began with a small painting inspired by one of Kate Nicholson’s which has now evolved into my style. I had a lot of fun making some monoprints and I purposely mixed colours that I wouldn’t usually veer towards. It really easy to stick to the same colour palette as an artist and I feel it’s good to have a challenge now and again.
Above is the one inspired by Kate Nicholson.
I’ve listed these ones and several more on my online shop so take a look…
I’ve been going to a pottery class with my son for the past few months . It was supposed to be an activity for us to enjoy doing together but he leaves after an hour and I continue for the next hour fumbling with the clay and making clumsy pots, bowls and recently birds. I’m not a natural potter. In fact I’m becoming more inept as I go along. However, this doesn’t matter as my creations are purely subject matter for my still life paintings.
This week I made cats heads. Partly inspired by one seen on Pinterest by Karin Hagen and also inspired by cat and owl heads bought years ago from a craft fair made by Sheila Spear.
My latest work is inspired by things myself and my son have made in a local pottery class. I’m concentrating on making coil pots, cups and bowls and my son has taken to the wheel which I find tricky and uncontrollable.
I’m very much trying to keep a handmade look and feel to my creations. They’re definitely not functional. I’m waiting for a little jug be fired which will then be included in the next painting.
Here are the paintings so far and I’ll be following up with a post showing the actual creations next….
I’m fortunate to live in a county which I find endlessly inspiring. Before lockdown I created a range of monotypes using my Cornwall sketchbooks as a starting point. This form of printmaking is instant and easy. All that’s required is a sheet of glass, roller, ink, paper and drawing tools. I make mine on my kitchen table. If I make a mistake with the drawing I leave it in which adds to the final piece. I’ve used lightweight Japanese printmaking papers which are acid free and very strong.
Here they are…
For the past few weeks I’ve been concentrating on making paintings inspired by sketches of local ponds. I’m focusing on the water lily pads as the simple shapes and colours fit really well into my ethos of essence and simplicity.
I’m gradually scaling these up as I think they’ll work really well and when I have more time I’ll be adding them to my online shop.
Do get in touch for more information and images.
A few simple, bold, bird, sun, moon and star prints made using my Fome 3621 table top press. Inspired by Matisse’s cut out birds. I’ve been researching which paper to use for these monoprints and the Fabriano Rosaspina is proving to be ideal. It has a good weight, smooth texture and dries flat. When I was on my printmaking course I used bread and butter paper which was okay but I think it’s a fairly basic sort of paper, hence the name.
I’ve painted in some areas to enhance the density of colour that I was aiming for.
These are all available from my online shop so take a look…