Kind Of Magic

My latest body of work explores the Welsh phrase ‘To Return To My Trees’ which means to come back to yourself and back to a balanced state of mind. I came across this phrase in Australian author Holly Ringland’s book ‘The House That Joy Built’ which, among other things, explores owning your own creativity and creating for joy. I just love this phrase and reading this book coincided with a time of creative and personal growth in my life - I began experimenting with my painting and further abstracting the botanical forms that I love. I always begin with drawings, flowers and trees, (I’ve been drawing the trees from my parent’s garden) I always draw before I pick up my paint brushes. I threw myself into these paintings, curious to see where they would take me. My paintings are a labour of love, I adore painting and I have drawn inspiration from artists that I admire; Edouard Vuillard and Pierre Bonnard, French illustrator Lucille Clerc & Scottish illustrators of old Annie French and Jessie M King, plus contemporary painters Nicola Moss and Spencer Shakespeare. Colour is very important to me as a painter as is getting the balance between colours just right. My painting practice involves beginning with a drawing on canvas of loose organic shapes and patterns, I then mix up my colours in old yoghurt and butter containers, next I begin to splash washes of translucent colour across the canvas. Once this is dry I begin to pick out shapes and patterns to paint with opaque layers of acrylic paint and gouache. I always think of my paintings as a series of layers built up over time, intensity of colour is increased, knocked back and increased again. I love oil stick for wobbly stripes and colourful areas on top of the acrylic layers. This looser more abstract way of working is hugely enjoyable and I will continue to build on this body of work with more paintings on canvas.