Taking The Lead

"Taking The Lead"

Following my leap back into action paintings I spent a wonderful session in my studio yesterday creating this racing scene.

From a few placements of pigment while working with a sense of excitement figures rapidly began to appear. As I worked away from my main rider I really had to depend totally on my imagination to allow the scene to come to life. 

At this stage I didn't want to be "dictated to" by what I saw. I had the desire to paint what I felt instead which is a far more powerful way of creating.

From my soul as an artist. 

 " Taking the Lead " First Stage.  

Even now there is so much of the story already told.

Why does this painting work? I knew from the beginning it would bea good result because I could see the finished piece in my mind. It isn't enough for me to look at an image and want to paint it. 

I want more. 

I want to capture the very essence of every single thing I am working on and bring it to life so that viewers of my creations feel they are involved in each scene. In this painting I want them feeling as though they are there at the races. I want them guessing who will win and almost hearing  the noise of hooves on the ground  creating a flurry of mud and dust rising from the movement and speed of the racing.

This is an exciting scene to witness in reality. Therefore it has to be an exciting scene in a painting. It has to be rich in all aspects.Colour,brushstrokes,composition,technique. Everything has to work.

And for me in this piece it does.

I am happily working on a new collection and really loving the series!

I hope you do too.

By the way, I really think the  rider in green on the outside is about to take the lead, take a look and see if you agree!

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Determined To Win

 

"Determined To Win"

When everyone expects me to share paintings of Spring Flowers or cockerels it really is nice to do my usual of being " unusual" by throwing in an unexpected subject. It feels very suitable to share this painting which started as a study last night.

My life feels like a blur at the moment as I juggle so many projects constantly. My March Exhibition in Alton is  now prepared but I am working on new collections for another gallery and a special show later this year. I am also working on my second book . I jump from subject to subject at will as my heart leads me and enjoy the  variety of colours in each.

This painting holds excitement for me and the sense of movement that is necessary to bring it to life. Working without a preliminary sketch means my focus really is on colour and how it interacts. Techniques are vital to  create variety throughout the composition so that the viewer can really fill in gaps with their own imagination. I can just see the horses muzzle although this isn't painted. I can feel the speed at which the horses are moving even though they aren't even there and the steam from the heat of the animals as their breath hits the cold air all adds to the thrill of the race.

I am racing to fulfil my commitments today and possibly this feeling is entering my work.

I am painting to fast music and feeling  the heady rush of the feeling of winning..........

A complete change from painting flowers to peaceful calm lyrics!

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Painting For the Bin?

Monday is my favourite day of the week. I see it as a beautiful blank piece of paper waiting to be painted on. I can decide what colours to use and which subjects to capture. I can let go of yesterday and feel the excitement of looking ahead to a brilliant tomorrow. Maybe it is this positive happy attitude that allows me to achieve a flow in my work with expressive brushstrokes. I am not tied to one subject and my free spirit can create at will wherever my mood takes me. Today I wish for warmer weather and the magical feel of dance.

I am off to Spain by the touch of a brush.

These studies are aimed at the bin as a very quick warm up to my serious painting session. I am  using these to free my mind and get to the quiet place I need to be to create wonderful paintings with a sense of life and beauty in them.

 Warm Up Exercise 1.

Just playing with colour and allowing  my imagination to  " see" a subject amongst  a few watermarks and colour  combinations!

  Warm Up Exercise 2.

 Working a little further on Exercise 1. and exploring how this could be used in a more serious painting.

The whole point of these warm up exercises is to relax, free my brush and my mind and simply enjoy painting. They are never intended to create pieces to be framed or exhibited but their value is as great in that I continually learn new ideas for colour contrasts and keep an element of fresh ideas in my work.

My workshops contain a mix of fun and serious painting. All my exercises are intended for motivational and inspirational purposes. For this reason it is very important I feel  a thrill when I paint too........

Now it is time to work on my exhibition and new collection........this was a wonderful break and distraction!

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