new work produced this week, with the saltmarsh at Thornham on the north Norfolk coast, once again as my main inspiration…
acrylic/mixed media on canvas, 60x80cm
Saltmarsh, early Spring. Mari French 2013
saltmarsh, early spring …
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Tag Archives: saltmarsh
the wind in the reeds…
January 12th, a cold but very bright day. I escaped from my rather cramped studio, which was being bombarded by noisy builders two doors down, up to the wide open spaces of the Norfolk coast in my mud splattered little Clio…
Saltmarsh (mixed media on board) © Mari French 2012
…welcome to my current favourite spot for sketching – the wide saltmarshes and creeks lying between Thornham and Holme-next-the-sea.
Reedbeds, Thornham Marsh (digital photo) © Mari French 2012
Thornham Marsh (digital photo) © Mari French 2012
The easterly wind is bitter and watercolour takes forever drying, so I walk along the raised bank of the sea defences, passing the odd dog walker and bird watcher, flapping my open sketchbook in the sunshine.
Saltmarsh creek © Mari French 2012
Next to the romantically named Hun Outfall Sluice (it’s a manmade kind of small canal, draining the surrounding farmland and marsh), with fish leaping for flies in the sun spangled water, I found a hidden spot down near the reedbeds, out of the bitter east wind and off the main path.
Reedbed sketch © Mari French 2012
…here the sun is bright and low (and warm for January) creating interesting light effects through the reeds and a great spot for sketching.
I will be returning soon. Meanwhile, the mixed-media paintings at the start and end of this post show how the day inspired me back in the studio.
remains of staithe (digital photo) © Mari French 2012
Reedbed (digital photo) © Mari French 2012
water depth scale (digital photo) © Mari French 2012
Saltmarsh 2 (mixed media on board) © Mari French 2012
sea lavender completed…
Those of you who read my recent post seeing lavender may be interested to see the resulting painting, just completed, inspired by that day’s sketching on north Norfolk saltmarshes…
Sea lavender © Mari French 2011
Like a lot of my work, this is acrylic on textured, deep-sided canvas, 61 x 61 cm.
It’s rare that I work up a painting direct from a sketch, as I find this a bit constricting, but this work is obviously heavily influenced by my original impression, although I didn’t have it sat in front of me while I painted in order to keep an element of freedom in its execution.
Mari French RI : contemporary artworks 