Tag Archives: reed beds

revisiting reed beds …

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Coastal reed beds, sunlight. © Mari French 2019

I need some new inspiration. I’ve loved exploring my impressions of Dungeness (see my last three posts), but in all fairness I probably need more than that one day of exploring and sketching back in October. I’m not abandoning the subject, but I do feel I’m retreading old ground now. I need to go back to visit and sketch, but for various reasons I can’t for a while. Three largish canvases stalled, so time for a change of direction. I believe artists need to be able to study a subject in some depth before creating meaningful expressive abstract interpretations.

In the meantime, I’m continuing to practice markmaking in my studio with acrylics, ink and other mixed media and enjoying messing about in my workbook. I can feel coastal reedbeds and sunlight coming through again and the urge to go walking and sketching in my usual stomping ground on the North Norfolk coast between Thornham and Burnham Overy Staithe.

Experimental painting with ink and acrylics © Mari French 2019
Workbook markmaking practice.

Reed beds, early Spring. © Mari French 2019

Another effective way of moving through a stalled phase for some artists can be to change techniques/medium for a while. So I’ve purchased some sheets of Mylar (as used for stencils) to try out. Obviously I need to play around with them for a while to discover their potential. So far I think oil paints with oil bars/pastels might give the most satisfying results, but oh the drying time! More about this in another post.

ice cream colours for Spring…

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First day of Spring © Mari French 2018

First day of Spring © Mari French 2018

Since that sunny first day of Spring sketching in the reed beds at Burnham Overy Staithe, which I wrote about in my last post, I’ve had a wonderful time with a new palette of luscious colours, all inspired by that light-filled day at the coast.

Some of my social media followers have described these as ‘ice cream colours’, which I rather like. There’s a lot of happiness and pleasure in the works too. Sometimes we artists can struggle and fight with a painting to bring it to fruition, but the works here seemed to emerge while I was enjoying playing with the paint. And isn’t it great when that happens!

Burnished light © Mari French 2018

Burnished light © Mari French 2018

Some of these paintings are in my current solo exhibition ‘Fragile coast’ at Grapevine Gallery, Burnham Market, North Norfolk until June. You can read a bit more about the exhibition and my recent work here.

New spaces © Mari French 2018

New spaces © Mari French 2018

 

 

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