Part 4 studio work – post 4
In the studio, I am continuing to explore new ways of understanding the natural environment. It’s interesting to be doing this during the seasons when the environment changes quite radically. Sound and colour explode in summer and give ample ways into this deeper connection which I’m searching for. Autumn also ‘plays nicely’ in this exploration displaying such a show of colour. My creative ‘juices’ were stimulated during this time when, listening to ‘Autumn Watch’on the TV, the presenter was asked about this amazing display of autumn colour and how it happens. He explained that the colour is always there in the leaves and it is the changes in the atmosphere which allow it to show itself…just part of nature’s evolving life! I was intrigued with this fact that the ‘colour is always there’ even when we can’t see it with our eyes and it became the beginning of this latest image.
During this exploration of ideas I’m also experimenting with different sizes of surfaces, trying to push my painting beyond the comfort zone. This present piece is 120x150cm…never attempted this before.
I found it a hugely freeing process. I loved the physicality of the painting process. I was able to indulge my love of the sweeping mark across the canvas and the feeling (which is becoming quite natural to me now), of absolutely not knowing where each mark is leading. As I began painting I had no plan – I simply started with an idea! The idea was scribbled on the surface – “Colour is always there”! Then I began to paint.
I left some of the text exposed for several sessions while I considered its relevance to the image. Finally it disappeared, actually not consciously, as the image began to take over.
At one point the image began to tighten and I found that I was conscious of the shapes of flowers etc and before I knew it I was carefully beginning to paint flowers. I hated this tightening and so I scribbled over the image with a fat charcoal stick, then literally threw very liquid red acrylic paint over the image. I cleaned the brushes, cleaned up the floor and walked out of the studio. The following day all kinds of wonderful things began to happen…
The substance of the idea was all that was dominant and it certainly took hold. Each morning as I returned to the studio to look at the painting, new shapes and images emerged as I was seeing it for the first time. Colours and tones pushed forward while others receded and deeps became hidden images of the natural world…so exciting!
