elusive light

undercroft series, mixed-media on paper,     © Mari French 2010

undercroft series, mixed-media on paper, © Mari French 2010

Imagery from a series I’m working on which was first inspired by a visit this summer to the ancient ruins of the guildhall in Blakeney, north Norfolk. The undercroft of this building is largely intact and what caught my attention was the play of light from the bright sunlit entrance on the walls and among the pillars in the darkness of the place.

My digital camera picks up available light pretty well but because of the low light and camera shake, resulted in some interesting effects. I don’t normally use photographs in my artwork but love the painterly quality of the images so in this case I’m making an exception, and they are going to be part of the artwork series.

undercroft series, mixed media on panel © Mari French 2010

undercroft series, mixed media on panel © Mari French 2010

undercroft series, digital photograph © Mari French 2010

undercroft series, digital photograph © Mari French 2010

in the depths of winter…

… I have been painting imagery from summer.

With two heaters going, my trusty hairdryer warming me as well as drying my work, the following pushed themselves onto my canvas recently: hot fields of poppies, acres of gold barley – the pattern and texture of the local fields of my new Norfolk home.

No doubt I’ll get the urge to create winter images of the recent snow scenes in the sunny spring months of 2011?!

'Summer fields with poppies', © Mari French 2010, 60x60cm, acrylic/mixed-media on canvas.

'Summer fields with poppies', © Mari French 2010, 60x60cm, acrylic/mixed-media on canvas.

'Walking near Castle Acre', acrylic/mixed-media on board © Mari French 2010

'Walking near Castle Acre', acrylic/mixed-media on board © Mari French 2010

'Track through poppy field', © Mari French 2010, 50x50cm, acrylic/mixed-media on canvas.

'Track through poppy field', © Mari French 2010, 50x50cm, acrylic/mixed-media on canvas.