I began this painting with expressive charcoal marks, moving quickly and instinctively. I mixed the paints and got started, I had a rough idea of how I wanted to start the brush marks but then it moves beyond that and it takes on its own energy.
Tag: colour pop
Freeform, loose brushmarks
This mini painting began with loose charcoal marks. I used wide paintbrushes to be as expressive and free as possible.
Ooooh!
Things are happening…
Invigorate
I took forward ideas and brushmarks from my previous paintings and mixed a dark grey again. I began with a circle form. I worked out colour by colour while the acrylic paint is wet, layering, spontaneously merging and mixing on the canvas, moving the brush slowly and purposefully to connect the paint with the canvas.
Funny influences
My latest painting work-in-progress. Possibly a little influenced by the scarf I was wearing?
Red Roses
I created this painting in September when the rose bush was in full bloom. I tried a new technique, dribbling ink across the canvas to create a web of rose stems, which looks very ‘climbing’ rose. I really like the end result, it has a dark, gothic feel.
Pale Pink Roses
This was an exciting experiment in discordant colours, which are colour combinations that contrast, clash, or “fight” rather than harmonize. Yep, got that! I also wanted it to be a simple multi-directional composition. I used painted newsprint for the stems which is surprisingly difficult to control. I love the unexpected result.
Autumn Leaves
This is a view of looking down at newly fallen hawthorn leaves on the ground, the incredible surface pattern with pops of red, orange and yellow. I went to town on a dark, moody Turner-esque inky background to give depth, and because the actual ground was the tarmac of a kids’ playground. Creativity strikes anytime!
Lavender IV
Lavender IV is a composition study from Lavender I, an area of the painting I particularly liked and wanted to work into a small-size abstract painting on handcut board.
Lavender II
Lavender II is a experiment with abstract and scale. The marks describe the lines and movement of the lavender hedge which fronts the Old School House. Deep blue, purple and lilac flowing across blues, greens and pops of lime green. It is painted on a large, deep edge canvas.
Lavender I
Lavender I was inspired by the lavender hedge I planted along the old school railings fronting the house; the smell is divine and the bees adore it. I experimented with different backgrounds with this series. Lavender I is harmonious pinks and purples with unexpected pops of lime green.
Apple Blossom I
The Apple Blossom series have been many years inside my head; inspired by a particular view of the apple tree blossom at Old School House Art contrasted against the glorious blue spring sky. A really successful change of scale for me. The colours are cool and harmonious layers of blues, purples and whites, with a shock of yellow
Bluebell inspiration
I’m working on two paintings inspired by the garden’s bluebells.