All about process

A course I am doing at the moment asked me to share a little bit about my process and as I was writing about it, it made me chuckle so I thought it would be a nice second post to share. Just to let you into a secret, humour is very important to me…😆

So there is a lot of talk about flow in art practice… maybe in our disciplines in life? Let me know. When I’m in the flow of working then I can barely keep myself from attacking every single surface in my studio with all manner of tools and implements; not all of them related to art either. One of my favorites is sandpaper, which I like to use before drawing - as you might be able to tell from the example below. Also included in the process is lots of rubber use, coffee for staining the paper and pencil ends….as I find they make great marks.

Tools - Studio Roller 2022

I love thinking about who the tool might have belonged to and trying to express how it might have been used through the drawing process.

So back to the attacking! Usually I’m doing this with a clumsy, excited, wayward, uncontrolled hand and because I can be working on lots of things at once, work can end up in various states of drying on the floor, I’m usually then stepping over and ON everything and creating a right bloody mess. At the end of a working day, when I open my studio door to leave, it feels like half the room might fall out with me.

I seem to have a different personality for each medium as well! With acrylic paints I have such a laissez-faire attitude because I don’t seem to value the substance’s plasticky-ness. (I’ve discovered I’m definitely a materialist!) I feel like a child making a mess and just not caring which, actually makes me feel more free. But as soon as I pick up oil paint then wham… I’m suddenly a very serious grown up. All cheeky fun and spontaneity seems too trite for this wonderful sensual, expressive medium. If you're interested, here’s a link about wet-on-wet technique, which is a favourite of mine. (Just a note in favour of acrylic. I have actually grown to love its own unique characteristics, which are not attainable with other media, particularly when watered down). And lastly meet the charcoal personality, all focus and slow reflective movements… all attentive and careful and breath-holding because it feels like every mark matters and it’s a delicate job getting things looking and feeling just right.

Birds Through the Machair 2023 Charcoal on Paper

Painting at Sandeel Bay

Daily Figure Oil on Paper 2023

Finally in the equation is a more conceptual approach to creating work. Buzzed by a word or a phrase (at present I am on evanescent) I love mind mapping and generating ideas and experimenting with materials to push the idea forward to its conclusion, seen here in the ‘Body of Evidence’ piece. This was sparked by Virginia Woolf’s quote “for most of history, Anonymous was a woman” and led me to looking at the ideas around absence and presence.

Mother and Daughter from “Body of Evidence” 2021

Who’s Living in My House? from “Body of Evidence” 2021

Final piece “Body of Evidence” 2021

I hope that gives you a small peek into my practice and processes.

There is always something to be working on, whether it’s technical advancement, or experimentation, as with the use of transparency and opacity in painting and getting a balance between the two; or developing a theme or idea, prepping substrates for use or reflection and thinking about where I’ve been and where I want to go.

Taking on this art task has been the most rewarding process I think I’ve ever done and I believe it will engage me for the rest of my life. I couldn’t give advice but one thing I know is that following my heart has made me a very, very happy person….and I’d love to encourage others to do so.

And finally…

I’m taking part in Dumfries & Galloway’s annual Spring Fling artists open studio festival for the first time, from my small studio in Portpatrick. I’m working furiously towards this event, which runs from 27-29th May (opening night 26th May 6-8pm). It gives you a peek into my studio where I will be showing my work practice and there will be artwork and cards etc for sale. It would be great to see you if you fancy a visit to this lovely harbour town.

Work of the Month

Continuing on my bird theme inspired by the rookery next to the house here is one of the latest pieces from my studio.

Patience Brings its Rewards 2023 Oil on Board

Thanks for reading and see you next time.