final round…

yayy! my painting ‘Duality’ (see previous post) has been selected as a finalist in the Sunday Times Watercolour Competition! It will be exhibited at The Mall Galleries in September along with other finalists, from which the winner will be chosen.

I’m just so delighted to have got to this far! I met with a lot of cynicism along the way, from some fellow artists re the futility of entering these big competitions, when trying to decide if I should go for it. But a big thanks are due to everyone who encouraged me to enter and especially to enter this piece. 

I suppose there’s an element of chance about these things – there are so many entrants for the judges to choose from after all. I just try to see it as part of my annual marketing strategy, but I’m still gobsmacked! 🙂

Duality. Watercolour on paper. Mari French 2014

Duality. Watercolour on paper. Mari French 2014

 

… getting through

this week I’m travelling down to the Mall Galleries in London with this painting. It’s made it through to the final selection round of the Sunday Times Watercolour Competition. It’s a wet-in-wet watercolour on paper, with a little wax resist to add highlights.

You could have knocked me down with a feather when I read the email from the organisers. I almost didn’t bother entering and now I’m really glad I did. This next round is to choose those that go into the exhibition in the Mall Galleries from which the winner will be selected, so wish me luck!

Duality. Watercolour on paper. Mari French 2014.

Duality. Watercolour on paper. Mari French 2014.

 

Inside Out…

Mari French at Highgate Contemporary Art, London

Mari French at Highgate Contemporary Art, London

This week saw the start of mine and Tassie Russell’s exhibition ‘Inside Out’ at Highgate Contemporary Art, London…

I’m very excited at showing my work in such a fresh, bright, welcoming gallery in the buzzing heart of Highgate, London, and indebted to those friends, clients and relatives who made long journeys down from Manchester, Lincolnshire and elsewhere to attend the private view on Wednesday eve. (a few photos from the evening shown here.)

The blurb on the gallery brochures and adverts reads… ‘the contained architectural exploration of space by Tassie Russell complements the open and expressive landscapes of Mari French’.

…you can read more about the exhibition, which runs until 8th July, at this link… Highgate Contemporary Art

Mari French with Tassie Russell & gallery owner Laurie Maclaren

Mari French with Tassie Russell & gallery owner Laurie Maclaren

Inside Out exhibition at Highgate Contemporary Art, London

Inside Out exhibition at Highgate Contemporary Art, London

Me and my good friend Stephen whose support and hard work made this show possible for me

Me and my good friend Stephen whose support and hard work made this show possible for me

A few of my works at the Inside Out exhibition at Highgate Contemporary Art, London

A few of my works at the Inside Out exhibition at Highgate Contemporary Art, London