I was delighted to be invited by the Discerning Eye to ‘Takeover’ their Instagram for five days.
Last year my oil painting ‘Through the Fields’ won the Humphrey’s Purchase Prize. Receiving such wonderful recognition sparked me on to continue pushing my painting.
For the Instagram Takeover I decided to take the viewers on a daily journey of my painting process from sketching and painting ‘Plein Air’. Through to working up larger pieces from these outside works in the studio.
I work in both oils and watercolours and regularly paint outside. All my works start off painted in a real location. It is these works that are used as my ‘primary source’ to paint from back in the studio. I never use photos. I like to allow my memory to be part of the process as well. I also aim to work with a semi-abstract contemporary feel. For me the ‘mood of her place’ or ‘spirit of the place‘ is the important factor to convey. So I don’t focus on detail.
My ‘Plein Air’ work although the basis for my larger studio work are also works in their own right.
