After following a small path through woodland and undergrowth, then open saltmarsh and wide skies this was the inspirational view I stumbled on back in late summer on a glorious day near Thornham saltmarsh, Norfolk… a huge swathe of pale purple sea lavender flowers.
sea lavender, Norfolk © Mari French 2011
Below is the little sketch I did on the spot… can’t wait to re-interpret this as a large painting sometime!
Sea Lavender, Norfolk (sketch) © Mari French 2011
I recently came across these digital photos of the creation of a work I have on display at the Burnham Grapevine Gallery in North Norfolk just now. Titled simply ‘Red landscape’ it is approx 40x40cm, acrylic/mixed media on canvas like a lot of my work. I thought it might be interesting to show how the painting evolved.
step1 © Mari French 2009
Obviously step 1 above sees the work some way on in its progress. I started by covering the box canvas with a smooth texture paste that I use, spread liberally and loosely with a palette knife. Before this dried I embedded various materials into it such as fine muslin and string, also pressing pieces of corrugated cardboard (peeling off the covering layer on one side, revealing the ridges) to create interesting areas of texture. Then, using a large (4 inch) soft brush – I applied a mix of burnt sienna and yellow ochre mixed with matt medium all over. When that was almost dry, I swept paynes grey across parts of the upper middle and lower foreground, resulting in the above image (step 1).
step 2 © Mari French 2009
In step 2 above, the sky area, horizon and foreground are suggested with parchment (a pale cream colour I find a bit gentler than white) giving some definition to what I could now visualise as a fieldscape, albeit an abstracted one. This was allowed to dry thoroughly.
step 3 © Mari French 2009
Step 3 demonstrates the rather drastic technique I often use of sweeping darker paint over the canvas with loose strokes concentrating on getting into all those bumps and ridges of texture. Before it dries I wipe most of it away with damp rags (have to be pretty quick here). Although this may seem a waste of time (and paint!) I find it gives a subtle depth to the final painting. Incidentally I use a hairdryer to speed up drying times for most works.
I then warmed up the painting with more burnt sienna and yellow ochre mix, and yellow ochre on its own, used fairly dry so it retained the brush strokes, to indicate ‘field’ areas. The finished work is shown below and also a close-up detail showing how the paint clings to the texture of the muslin etc.
Red landscape © Mari French 2009
'Red landscape' detail © Mari French 2009
Thornham saltmarsh, from sketchbook © Mari French 2011
Thornham creek & marshes © Mari French 2010
A selection of photos and sketches from a recent visit to Thornham marshes, on the north Norfolk coast, in glorious sunshine. At high tide the saltmarsh and creeks are inundated by seawater – it’s a place of dual characteristics which fascinates me.
I’m spending time studying this area with the intention of working up a body of paintings (another one!) for exhibition. The tide goes out fast here leaving shining mud banks reflecting the blue sky and is a feast for wading birds (the area is a mecca for bird-watchers).
Old silvered tree stumps and rows of dark posts in the mud – remains of staithes (jetties) – provide useful vertical contrast to the expanse of horizontal bands of colour and texture. The creek winds out to the pale strand and dunes in the distance, and indigo strip of sea.
Although it was sunny there was a very cold breeze, so as well as wrapping up well, I made use of the disposable hand warmers I got for christmas. These come in a multi-pack and as soon as you tear open the cello pack they start to warm up and provide very good heat for several hours (although they’re probably not very eco-friendly). They’re also small enough to fit in gloves (or even wellies for a quick warm up!) – highly recommended for outdoor sketching.
Thornham creek, from sketchbook © Mari French 2011
Thornham stumps, from sketchbook © Mari French 2011
Thornham creek & marshes © Mari French 2011
Mari French RI : contemporary artworks 