White Cross (mixed media on board) © Mari French 2018
Well, the recent trip to the high moors above Rosedale in the North York Moors I wrote about in my last post paid off inspiration-wise I’m pleased to report. If you haven’t seen that post you can read it here.
I’ve been on a bit of a roll since getting back in the studio – a new palette reflecting the stone, iron ore, soft purples and ochres of the late summer/early autumn moorland landscape of North Yorkshire. First came these small studies on paper, after checking through my photos and sketches:
Moors above Rosedale (study) © Mari French 2018
Then a few explorations in a more abstract graphic style of the distinctive medieval ‘wheelhead’ White Cross or ‘Fat Betty’ that sits up on the moorland at the crossroads of 3 parishes:
Eventually I allowed my subconscious to take over and without referring to any of these resources trusted to memory and instinct (the way I love to work!). I wanted a soft palette of green-greys, bruise-greys, and blue-greys with also a soft brick tone to reflect the outcrops of iron ore in the area. I often mixed these directly on the support itself. I tried 40x40cm canvas but found in this instance I was more happy working on watercolour board at a similar size.
Anyway, these works below (and top of this post) are what emerged. I’m very excited by them and enjoyed creating them so much. They’ve already aroused interest in two galleries. I’m pleased to report I’m taking these first three of this new series to a gallery in Sevenoaks, Kent at the end of September. Now looking forward to what else emerges in this series!
High moorland (mixed media on board) © Mari French 2018
Land of iron (mixed media on board) © Mari French 2018
Mari French RI : contemporary artworks 