Primary Joys

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Quick and simple watercolour sketches from last summer. I have experienced the urge to play again, to experiment with older techniques which have all but become unfamiliar to me now, after so many years of intense, detailed digital work. Sometimes I simply yearn to go back to the drawing board for a little while, to make a mess, to abandon myself to that raw, spontaneous, unpredictable state of being, devoid of the delete key. .

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I have very few materials at hand right now, just a couple of old acrylic tubes and a child's tin of watercolour primaries. The older experiments (above) were largely influenced by vintage book illustration - many elements of which occasionally find themselves merged into my digital paintings, or used for textures in digital collage. 

I am eternally intrigued with how my personal experiences inform my art. How my moods dictate my use of colour, shape, line and the overall feel of the image. Having worked with figures and portraiture for so long I appear to have developed an almost obsessive interest in abstraction, ambiguity. I am also interested in how different media alter our 'signature' style - how traditional paint seems to lead me into abstraction, whereas digital media tends to focus my attention on detailed narratives and realism (of a fashion!).

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Portal 

Portal began life over the breakfast table, possibly the result of too much coffee and laughter (a giddy morning, perhaps an unconscious defense against this interminable rain), after opening up the watercolour tin for the first time in oh so long. A torn piece of paper shall suffice, I said. And so it came to be. I have absolutely no idea what to say about it, except that frivolity and joy and maybe too much caffeine created a vibrant, colourful little monster! I both love and hate this painting. I love the suggestion, the bliss born terror and the spontaneity....... I hate my rusty painting skills....

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 The Joy

A floral painting layered over a photograph. This appears to reflect my current mood. 

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And finally, some shop related news: I shall be announcing the timeframe of my seasonal sale very shortly, which will feature reductions on all open edition 10x8 prints. For more information, please check out the news section over at the the Art&Ghosts shop. I will be updating as soon as I get a free moment:)

Back soon x

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Comments

[Jody Silkey]

These paintings are gorgeous, I have been following your work for awhile, and I absolutely LOVE them! Keep it up, they are fantastic :)

[Maria-Thérèse]

Very interesting - how different from the art I normally associate you with! I understand what you mean about the ambiguity. I play with abstraction too sometimes and I think I need to because most of my work is photography (which some people still insist is a depiction of "reality" but I say no).

Is that a transparent rainbow flute? That's just not faaair!

I really like the painting layered over the photograph and I think the ones with plant elements would sell really well on Etsy... although very different from your other work.

[withoutwords]

THE JOY is beyond beautiful lou.

there is something so ridiculously seductive about paint. perhaps it reminds me in some weird (non-morbid) way of blood. an extension of ourselves.

plus
i like the mess
;)

[Marissa]

The Joy is particularly compelling.

It is important to go back from time to time in order to move forward.

Is that a clear rainbow recorder?

[louise (art and ghosts)]

Thankyou folks!

It certainly is a rainbow recorder! I found it at Monsoon UK, the girls section. A little sheet of music to practice comes with it, which is kind of cute:)

[Toni]

I adore the Joy! It reminds me of summertime, which I am longing for right now. These paintings are wonderful!

[Kate]

Is there no end to your tallent? You have magic fingers!

[Kate]

Oh I can't help but butt in with regards to your rainbow recorder. It is rather gorgeous, however let me tell you, be warned....it doesn't become so when you have a 2 year old on one, and a four year old on the other blowing with all their might!!!

[louise (art and ghosts)]

Thanks Toni!

And Kate:)
I almost bought my friends little daughter one for xmas....then thought twice, haha!

[Maria-Thérèse]

omg... You need to learn from my mistakes; not sure if you read this post:

http://blog.afiori.com/2009/11/things-you-should-never-tell-child.html

[Maria-Thérèse]

I just realised you ALMOST bought the recorder. I'm a bit ill today & not thinking clearly. Still, I learnt a lesson about 2-year-olds and flutes :)

[cass and cady]

so pretty!