I am thrilled to have been shortlisted for the ING Discerning Eye Drawing Bursary 2020. This means so much to me as drawing underpins all my work. I feel I spend more time drawing than painting sometimes.
I work ‘en plein air’ and also in the ‘studio’ however before I start painting each work will have a drawing completed before I start work. Even when out in the field painting ‘en plein air’ I will make a thumbnail sketch in charcoal before hand. For me making the drawing either in charcoal or graphite is a way of exploring and understanding the image in shapes, tonal values and feel.
I like to use charcoal sticks, old school style. I know there are a wealth of liquid and fancy charcoals available. And I have tried them all. Believe me I like nothing better than investigating art products. But for me there is such a beautiful feel about charcoal and the unpredictability of it snapping and using the new snapped edge. Picking up a small piece from the bottom of the Tupperware box that I keep them in and then crushing it on the paper. Nothing like getting your fingers messy. I work light to begin with and then push in into the work with the darks.
The painting which follows feels familiar due to having worked a drawing first. Often the drawings stand in their own right as well. Like the three works which were selected by the ING Discerning Eye Drawing Bursary. These were drawings done out in the landscape and were full of emotion.
You can follow the exhibition at @ingdiscerningeye or #INGDiscerningEye on Instagram. The exhibition will open online on Thursday 19th November at 7pm!
Harvest Moon, Charcoal, 30 x 30cm. Selected for the ING Discerning Eye Drawing Bursary 2020
Rain Blowing Through, Charcoal, 30 x 30cm. Selected for the ING Discerning Eye Drawing Bursary 2020
Clear Light, Charcoal, 30 x 30cm. Selected for the ING Discerning Eye Drawing Bursary 2020
