New Work

I have been working on something new, here are a few glimpses.

Breathing Space

I had hoped that once my exhibition was up and running that I would be able to spend time on my neglected blog but this doesn't seem to be happening. I am however starting to think about what I do next and as space is limited in my studio I think I need to either work smaller or maybe work on paper for a while, however it is nice to have just a little time to think, a little bit of breathing space. Here are a few inspiring things that I have come across over the past few months, starting with an artist new to me Hannelore Baron, I don't know why I have not come across her before but I find these small works and her life really poignant.

Hannelore Baron used a wide range of materials but, using predominantly textiles she made collages and box constructions. You can see more of her work at  Leslie Feely Fine Art.
Whilst researching Hannelore Baron at Leslie Feely I came across painter Kikuo Saito.

I love these freely painted abstract works, brightly coloured yet still balanced, looking at these paintings I was reminded of the beautiful works of Joan Mitchell who is one of my favourite painters.

It's well worth looking at the Joan Mitchell foundation website, it's full of information about her life and lots of good images of her work including her wonderful pastel drawings.

I will finish with a few photographs taken one evening on one of our gloriously hot days back in July.

And one of the paintings inspired by the walk. Have a good week everyone.

The Colour of Ideas

It has been a long time coming but at last I have a solo exhibition which has opened today at the Sale Waterside Arts Centre. It's a small collection of twenty paintings, and I am really delighted with the way the exhibition looks. It is titled The Colour of Ideas which seemed fitting as it has been this blog and the encouragement of my kind commenters, and the blogging community who have inspired me to continue to paint. Also I must give a huge thank you to the Sale Waterside Arts Centre especially Julia Milns who has organised everything for me and Jenny Waterson who encouraged me to apply for the space. And a massive thank you to family and friends who have supported me and being so understanding over the last few months when there has been no housework done, and my constant refusals to coffee invitations (although I have managed a few) and days out.

I also have a website which is now live, thanks to my wonderful husband. There are still some pictures to add to it so it's still a work in progress but nearly finished.

In the Studio

Paintings are building up in the studio, getting a little bit excited and a little bit worried!!

A closer look at one of the small paintings, they are 30cm x 30cm. Have a great weekend everyone and hope it's sunny where you are.

Sneak peek in the studio

I am at last having an exhibition of my paintings and I am really enjoying the challenge of creating a whole body of work, even though at the moment it seems to be turning me into a bit of a hermit. My exhibition will be in September which really isn't that far of when I only have two full days to paint, I think that housework may suffer a bit, what a shame!! Here's a sneak peek.

Sketchbook

Since starting the pastel drawings my work has been completely taken over by this linear shape that appeared by just letting my hand do what it naturally felt like doing.

I started working in a small moleskin sketchbook with pencil and graphite.

This more deliberate line lacked some of the spontaneity of the pastel drawing so I closed my eyes and did some blind drawings.

Starting to add colour, hopefully keeping the spontaneity of the blind drawings.

The Last Gasp of Winter

Work in Progress

I am currently working on a series of paintings so am pretty busy at the moment. I only have two or three days free to get into the studio so that leaves little time for anything else, I haven't done any photography in ages so I might have a painting break next week just to gather some inspirational material. Here are a few detailed photos of the paintings, I don't feel ready to share the whole paintings yet.

Callum Innes

I have been a fan of the Scottish abstract painter Callum Innes since my University days so was very excited to here about his forthcomong exhibition at the Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester, starting on the 2nd March and finishing on the 16th June.

He will be showing a number of paintings from his ongoing series of Exposed Paintings which are made by a process of addition and subtraction. All the paintings start of as solid black oil paint, he then uses turpentine to remove the black then adds colour and removes this. He also paints in watercolour using the same process of adding and subtracting, this exhibition will show a selection of new watercolours made especially for the Whitworth.

The following Tate Shots studio visit shows the process of making the watercolours, his studio looks amazing, I wish it was mine.

If anyone is local to Manchester you might be interested in his artists talk which is at the Whitworth on the 2nd March at 2.30. You can also see more work here.

Josef Albers

Josef Albers en Amérique - du 8 février au 30... by centrepompidou

Love this short video of Josef Albers colour studies taken from a touring exhibition that started at The Pompidou Centre in 2012, Josef Albers in America: Paintings on Paper. See more here.

Inspiration

Painting at last but not much progress!! the only thing I have liked so far is the paint collecting on my palette.

Evolution of a Painting

I can't believe it's a month since my last post, I really am finding blogging hard to do at the moment and I don't think it is due to lack of time, it is more to do with lack of motivation. Therefore I thought I would try and ease myself back in slowly with a mainly visual post on one of the paintings that I started on the Bloom True e course.

This was the first of many layers, the paint was applied freely trying to let the paint find it's own way.

Adding glazes with fluid acrylics, which I have never used before.

At this point I decided to put this painting to one side it doesn't feel finished yet but I just feel a bit stuck.
There is quite a lot of etching in this painting so I took a few close up shots.

I am working on three paintings at the moment they are all 90cm x 90cm which is quite large for me, however I feel I would like to paint even larger.