Yesterday I visited Sutton Coldfield Arts Society and did my very first demonstration. I was very anxious! The group was really welcoming and I very much enjoyed the session, once I put aside my angst. I used some sketches inspired by Whitby and its abbey to inform my work. I had previously prepared a similar painting and the group was slightly taken aback when I obliterated the image with dark coloured paint and then retrieved it mostly using scrapers, I’ll post the images when I finish them off. Here is the one I prepared before the session ….
I’ve also been working on some abstracted landscapes inspired by the Derbyshire countryside. The first two pieces are inspired by the area close to Padley Gorge and Grindleford. Hopefully the onset of Spring will mean more walking, sketching and photo opportunities.
This week I managed to pop down to look at Kara Strachan’s fabulous new work in her beautiful gallery at the Curborough Countryside Centre Lichfield. Kara and I met when our children were very young when we attended some Mary Griffin art courses at what was then Lichfield College. Kara has been a constant source of encouragement and support throughout my art journey. Her studio is well worth a visit and there’s a lovely coffee shop ‘Thyme kitchen’ at the Centre.
Many of you will know that I have studied under Martin Kinnear at the Norfolk Painting School and this month I indulged myself with a ‘Copy after Kinnear’. I love Martin’s use of colour, the design of his work and his loose mark making. I am a member of his weekly online studiotalk group. I continue to learn a lot. Here is the ‘Copy After’.
