detail © Mari French 2012
…a few sketches from a recent exploration along local country lanes, during the harvest season, led to some promising experimental imagery…
track through ripening barley, watercolour/ink pencils.
© Mari French 2012
above… I thought purple skies in a couple of instances would get across the heat of the summer day better than the usual blue.
Rain clouds over ripening crops
© Mari French 2012
at last … I discovered that this particular blue/purple crop (below) I’d noticed recently, was the herb Borage (nice edible flowers), and not flax or linseed, which seemed more prevalent last year.
stubble and borage crop, watercolour/oil pastel
© Mari French 2012
…and subsequent experimental images, created as soon as I got back, inspired by the field imagery, using ink-stained tissue paper, sponge rollers etc, deliberately avoiding using usual media like pencil, brushes… I want to take these further sometime soon.
experimental 1
© Mari French 2012
experimental 2 © Mari French 2012
experimental 1
© Mari French 2012
experimental 3 © Mari French 2012
Mari French RI : contemporary artworks 
Mari, I love these images, full of colour and light!
Thanks Anthea!
I’m very impressed by all your work. The large abstract heavy textured landscapes and the dense fragile studies outside. Full of energy and emergency, of skills and drills – they all speak of a poetic manner to see the real, cause poetry, I think, has not to be sickly, but powerful as your art. Sincerely, JBP
Thank you for your greatly appreciated comments and observations on my work.
I’ve visited your own blog and really like the acrylics/chalks image in ‘Prisarella, Corse’.
best wishes, Mari
These are beautiful Mari – I’m just beginning to flag a bit. I’m fed up of banging my head against closed doors lol! I need to be more pro-active in finding an outlet/group to work with. Had a discouraging summer (it must be – usually I couldn’t give a stuff!!) – onwards and upwards – these works are very inspiring. Loving experimental 1 – gorgeous scale and simplicity.
Thanks Elaine! Sorry to hear about the off-summer, I think it might be the art world in general this year. Most galleries I’ve been in touch with are reporting it as v quiet and sales have generally been poor so i think they’re being over-cautious. Hang in there, your work is really refreshing, I particularly like the recent printmaking experiments. It only needs one person with connections to see and like your work – then they’ll be chasing you! I thought you were in the NeoArtists group? How has that worked out? I’ve had mixed experience with art groups myself.
These look really exciting Mari..the use of ink stained tissue paper is brilliant…I love immediate work and for me these are accomplished in and of themselves. but I expect you’ll do some wonderful things when you take your ideas further.
thanks ruth, I know what you mean, but because these are in a sketchbook and quite small I need to produce some as separate pieces and poss a bit bigger. I want them to keep the freshness of these though (hopefully).