Thank you to everyone who commented or DMed me. It seems that for most people they did really appreciate hearing a bit more about the rationale behind each painting. I do have some explanation on my website, if you click on the painting and scroll down to description you’ll find a bit more of an explanation but as a few people asked about specific paintings here’s a few more…..
WATERS EDGE, SKIMMING, SPELLBOUND and TWO SOULS
Completed in August 2020
I’ve grouped these paintings together because they are all based on the same inspiration and although different in size (there are two pairs size wise) I created them at the same time.
What sparked the idea? Since April I have been working on a collection of works inspired by rock pools and the stoney path around the coastline between Cullercoats and Whitley in the North East where I live. It’s an area we walk in regularly so you become familiar with the shapes and structures and how they differ depending on the tide.
Many of my earlier pieces like Bay Mosaic and Tide Pools reflect the muted, earthy tones of browns and beiges but during the summer months I wanted to capture the of freshness of the season and the sense of everything appearing brighter and bolder in the sunshine so I decided upon a more playful colour palette. The inspiration was really the joyfulness of summer. With more people holidaying in the UK this year the beaches were alive with families and it was great to see little ones rock pooling with tiny fishing nets and brightly coloured wellies! The experience evoked childhood memories of paddling in the sea and trying to skim pebbles across the waters surface.
In this collection of works I wanted to convey the ripples and beautifully organic shapes that you see as a pebble gently touches the water before bouncing forward – although I have to admit that my skills in skimming or skipping pebbles is rubbish.
Completed in June 2020
What Sparked this Idea? Just along the street from my house there is a beautiful nineteenth century French Gothic style Church – St. Georges. It is right on the seafront, appearing to rise up from the beach. It dominates the landscape, because of its sheer size but also the colour which has darken over time giving it a rather gloomy and imposing appearance. I decided to google it and find out a bit more about its history and the description really captured a sense of history “a beacon to local people, seafarers and travellers”. Apparently it was a navigational aid for fisherman and I’m sure for those of faith a comfort when returning safely home.
What struck me was that despite its dominance and the fact that it has survived the test of time, all of this pales in comparison with the permanence and vastness of the sea. In this painting I wanted to convey how small the building was in comparison and also give a sense of fragility, existing in a moment of time but with the possibility of being engulfed by the water.
Completed in January 2020
What Sparked this Idea? From our living room you have an amazing view out to sea. The summer months are great, the sea is calm and often a lovely bluey green and early in the morning you have the hardy swimmers and the paddle boarders, replaced later in the day with families playing on the beach. But I think my favourite views of the sea are when its stormy which tends to be the colder months.
Its during these months that the sea really comes to life – angry crashing waves that bash against the harbour walls casting spray high into the air. During the day the water is a bluey grey with highlights of foamy white but in the evening you can sometimes see deep red or pink hues, reflecting the colour of the sky.
In this painting I wanted to capture a sense of that turmoil in the movement of the waves. Knowing that no one could battle against the sheer power and relentlessness of the water.
