breathing space …

 

Breathing space, Mixed-media on paper. © Mari French 2016

Breathing space, Mixed-media on paper. © Mari French 2016

 
This past few months I’ve been painting madly away in my studio in preparation for two solo shows coming up soon. 

The first, entitled ‘Breathing Space’, will be at Anteros Arts Foundation in Norwich, in the main gallery, from 3rd to 14th May, and is a varied show including some of my new works, a few of which are shown here, alongside several existing favourites.

My second show, entitled ‘Salt & Sand’, will be at The Grapevine Gallery in Burnham Market, north Norfolk, and will solely consist of work inspired by the creeks, reedbeds and marshes of the wild expanse of the Norfolk Saltmarsh coast, where, as you may know from many posts on this blog, I spend a lot of time walking and sketching.

I think it’s clear that I’ve been putting into practice some of the mark-making techniques I learnt at the Emily Ball workshop back in January!

 

Pools of light, mixed-media on paper, © Mari French 2016

Pools of light, mixed-media on paper. Mari French 2016

 
  

experimental painting …

 

Experimental painting © Mari French 2015

Experimental painting © Mari French 2015

Experiments with expressive painting and drawing techniques to loosen up and develop my mark making. 

Exciting, fun and frustrating by turns, I’ve found it a worthwhile exercise.

These are painted with acrylics and Inktense sticks, plus gesso, on 300gsm 30×20″ watercolour paper.

Experimental painting © Mari French 2015

Experimental painting © Mari French 2015

 

Experimental painting © Mari French 2015

Experimental painting © Mari French 2015 


experimental drawing © Mari French 2015

experimental drawing © Mari French 2015

 

experimental drawing © Mari French 2015

experimental drawing © Mari French 2015

 

Experimental painting © Mari French 2015

Experimental painting © Mari French 2015

 

final round…

yayy! my painting ‘Duality’ (see previous post) has been selected as a finalist in the Sunday Times Watercolour Competition! It will be exhibited at The Mall Galleries in September along with other finalists, from which the winner will be chosen.

I’m just so delighted to have got to this far! I met with a lot of cynicism along the way, from some fellow artists re the futility of entering these big competitions, when trying to decide if I should go for it. But a big thanks are due to everyone who encouraged me to enter and especially to enter this piece. 

I suppose there’s an element of chance about these things – there are so many entrants for the judges to choose from after all. I just try to see it as part of my annual marketing strategy, but I’m still gobsmacked! 🙂

Duality. Watercolour on paper. Mari French 2014

Duality. Watercolour on paper. Mari French 2014