Tag Archives: North Norfolk coast

On the surface …

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Reed beds abstract. Mixed media on DuraLar © Mari French 2019

Reed beds abstract 1. © Mari French 2019

I’ve begun experimenting with Mylar sheets (a kind of acetate film) to further explore my impressions of reedbeds on the North Norfolk coast. Spring is a lovely time for this subject, although I love them year round, and the recent sunny weather has had me reaching for my sketchbook and heading to Burnham Overy Staithe and Thornham once again.

Reacting to these location impressions back in the studio, I’ve found I prefer DuraLar sheets to Mylar, being specifically aimed at artists, and suitable for a wider range of media including acrylics. I’ve actually been using oils on them, unusual for me as I normally paint in acrylics/mixed media. But, though it takes longer to dry, oil paint glides onto the surface beautifully and editing out and inscribing marks into it is a joy. The sheets can also be overlaid on each other, creating veils of imagery, and other material can be sandwiched between.

The images in this post are a few early examples of my DuraLar experiments and are all approx A4 in size.

Reed beds abstract 2. Mixed media on DuraLar © Mari French 2019

Reed beds abstract 2. © Mari French 2019

Reed beds abstract 2. Mixed media on DuraLar © Mari French 2019Reed beds abstract 3. Mixed media on DuraLar © Mari French 2019

Reed beds abstract 3. © Mari French 2019

Spring in the reed beds …

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Reedbeds, Burnham Overy Staithe. © Mari French 2018

Reedbeds, Burnham Overy Staithe. © Mari French 2018

I stepped down the steep bank of the sea defences and out of the cold wind. Now on level with the huge swathe of reeds, the warm sun on my face, I could hear so many different birds belling, fluting and chiming, out of sight among the swaying blonde wands. Overhead, flocks of Brent and Pinkfoot geese clamoured and a pair of red kites circled in the sun.

This was last week on the first day of spring and I was walking along the marshes and creeks at Burnham Overy Staithe on the North Norfolk coast. Blue skies and bright sunshine drew me out sketching for the first time in ages and it was bliss to be out under that huge blue open dome of sky (apart from that cold wind of course).

Sketching reedbeds in spring sunshine. © Mari French 2018

Sketching reedbeds in spring sunshine. © Mari French 2018

There were so many bird species about, including a group of six avocets, the poster birds of the RSPB, with their upturned slender beaks, they danced their delicate crane-like courtship dance on the shining mudflats.

 

Cold but sunny!
Avocets © Mari French 2018
Reedbeds and grazings, Burnham Overy Staithe © Mari French 2018
Reedbeds and grazings, Burnham Overy Staithe © Mari French 2018
Sketching reedbeds © Mari French 2018
Tide retreating, Burnham Overy Staithe© Mari French 2018

It may come as a surprise to some who see my work, but the calls, flight and tracks of coastal birds are often referenced in the guise of abstract meandering marks in my paintings. Along with the movement of the wind in reeds or over water, jet trails in the sky and my own wanderings, this is one of the techniques I employ to evoke a sense of my experience of a place.

Below is one of the resulting small mixed media works I produced in my studio this week, all fired up and inspired by that glorious day sketching the reed beds. I’ll post more soon.

'Reedbeds 1' © Mari French 2018

‘Reedbeds 1’ © Mari French 2018

Coastal erosion at the Mall Galleries!…

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I’m so pleased to announce that four of my artworks have been selected for exhibition at the Royal Institute of Water Colour Painters (RI) at the Mall Galleries, London, 6 to 21 April 2018. This is always an impressive and varied show of contemporary work in water media and well worth visiting if you are able to.

'Equinox', mixed media on paper. Selected for the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 2018. © Mari French 2018.'Emerging forms', mixed media on paper. Selected for the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 2018. © Mari French 2018.

'Byzantine waters', mixed media on paper. Selected for the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 2018. © Mari French 2018.

'Cryptic shore', mixed media on paper. Selected for the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours 2018. © Mari French 2018.

The selected paintings: ‘Equinox’, ‘Emerging forms’, ‘Byzantine waters’ and ‘Cryptic shore’ (all shown above) are part of an ongoing series created in response to coastal erosion, which I have been working on over the winter. It’s a subject that has been in my mind since visiting Happisburgh, North Norfolk.

Although I’m well aware of and sympathise with the devastation such destructive erosion causes to the inhabitants of affected villages, my interest here was in capturing the energy and dynamism of the forces involved; of crumbling cliffs and bent and broken structures; the sheer power of the waves and the resulting twisted rusting metal, wooden and concrete forms.

I’ll be exhibiting more paintings from this series at my solo show from 24 March at the Grapevine Gallery, Burnham Market, North Norfolk, which will also feature artworks from my reedbeds series. This exhibition will run for one month, more details to follow.