Tag Archives: painting

wrinkles and creases…

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Shoreline (detail) © Mari French 2012

Shoreline (detail) © Mari French 2012

A detail of another recent ink and tissue experimental piece (shown in full below), to show the lovely way the ink runs into the wrinkles and creases in this method, suggesting natural features. This detail is roughly actual size.

(Hopefully this one will show an enlarged view when clicked on! I’ve been having difficulty getting this aspect to work when using the ‘shortcut’ New Post facility in WordPress).

I am so excited by this way of working!

Shoreline © Mari French 2012

Shoreline © Mari French 2012

bit of a squeeze…

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studio still life, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio still life, digital photo © Mari French 2012

Sparked off by a recent post on my artist friend Elaine Phipps’ blog, my fascination (ie. nosiness) with the interiors of other artists’ working studios (especially small ones), once again reared its head…

how do other artists use the space…? what do other artists read…? what materials do other artists use…? what do other artists do for storage…?

…or is it just me?

This led to my ‘wandering’ about with my camera in my own studio yesterday (although it’s too small for wandering, more like stumbling from one corner to another)…

So here are a few corners from my studio…

Don’t forget to check out Elaine’s then perhaps show me some of yours?

studio still life, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio still life, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio still life, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio still life, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio, digital photo © Mari French 2012

studio, digital photo © Mari French 2012

silver linings…

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the heavy rain is back but it can have benefits for the artist…

I find it much more interesting to sketch looming storm clouds whilst sitting in a car looking out over summer farmland and empty country lanes, than sunshine and blue skies…

Storm clouds near Shernbourne, Norfolk

Storm clouds near Shernbourne, Norfolk
© Mari French 2011

Exploring quiet country lanes between Anmer, Shelbourne and Ingoldisthorpe on monday, I came across these fields of ripening barley and a field of purple/blue flowers (crop?) which I couldn’t identify.

Blue field under stormy sky, Ingoldisthorpe, Norfolk

Blue field under stormy sky, Ingoldisthorpe, Norfolk
© Mari French 2012

I used oil pastel here for quick blocking in of features before flowing wet in wet watercolour over the top (first time I’ve tried this technique outdoors and it gives useful, speedy and lively results as the pastel acts as a resist to the paint. I like the broken colour and flecks of paint that result.

Barley field under storm clouds near Anmer, July '12

Barley field under storm clouds near Anmer, July ’12
© Mari French 2012

I was listening to ‘The Quiet Room’ from the album ‘Piano Stories’ by Debbie Wiseman –  a piece of music which goes well with the subject and place for me.

I’ve built up a library of atmospheric music via I-Tunes from noting pieces heard on Classic FM/BBC Radio 3 and the like.