MINSMERE BIRD RESERVE SERIES OF SMALL PAINTINGS

MINSMERE BIRD RESERVE

The photo shows the view across the Minsmere reed beds, you can see Sizewell on the horizon.

A mixed media collage painting based on the same view.

I have completed a series of small painting collages during the Autumn of last year.

The bird reserve series each show a small glimpse of the view across the reed beds. They depict an Autumnal scene; the colours are muted with flashes of brighter colours from berries, seed heads and reeds. The water sparkles in the sunlight introducing silvers, bronze and golds.

                     

                                       
                                     A glimpse of Sizewell

Small paintings before mounting and unframed.

I intend to use some of these artworks

as a starting point for larger square canvases

using mixed media techniques.

I visit this area most weeks throughout the year. I walk down the path with anticipation to the beach, the stones crunching under my feet. When the tide is out sand appears, walking is easier and hidden treasures are revealed.

The beach, sea, sky are always different, captivating.

Walking back up to my view point (the NT car park) ; birds rise up from the reeds, ducks and geese can be heard flying back at dusk.

The boom of the bitterns resonate around the reserve. If you are lucky you can see them flying above the reeds. In spring I  have seen them on the edge of the water eating young frogs.

MY FIRST BLOG FOR A WHILE.

During the process of finally clearing my Old Studio at Stowlangtoft  I came across a folder containing work completed during my foundation year. A quote from me at the time " The paintings were completed rapidly executed without precision to prevent too much deliberation and planning.

The paintings were completed in a large hall above a workshop. This allowed me to have

about 50 sheets of A1 newsprint on the floor and to work on several pieces at one time. I used very liquid paint in tins including some household paint and various sized brushes. They are achieved intuitively by allowing the loaded  paint brush to pass over the surface quickly.  This was followed by a more considered reworking of the pieces.

I later worked on some larger 4ftx4ft  paintings on board.  

Working on the smaller paintings gave me the confidence to apply the same creative  process to the larger paintings. 

This is my only remaining painting. Painted in 1969.

My decision now was 

1. Do I keep the found paintings,        2. Do I put them in the skip .

After a few days I decided to use this as an opportunity to rework  the found paintings.

Currently I often collage pieces of previous prints, drawings, cardboard into work.

     

 I decided to recycle the paintings.  I ripped them up.  I wanted to make some collage pieces.

Also I found if I pulled the painting off the mount it revealed a superb textured background the colour of sand, cliff. The piece below demonstrates this. This was really exciting and encouraged me to continue.

Reworked collages in frames 

Paintings waiting to wrapped up and sent to new homes.

The re-made series of paintings,

They hold memories of the past and now form part of the present and future.

Open Studio as part of Open Gardens

At the weekend I opened my studio to the public as part of Long Thurlow Open Gardens and Studios weekend. The village was raising money for East Anglian Air Ambulance

The weather was kind making every ones hard work worthwhile. I had at least 40 visitors during the Saturday I was open. It was very rewarding visitors were quick to ask questions about my work and were open minded.

I had spent sometime rearranging and presenting my art work it was three years since I had opened to the public as part of Suffolk Open Studios

During a break at the coast in May I produced a series of small paintings reflecting the changing mood , texture and colour of the sea all painted from the same spot over a 5 day period.

I offered these original art work pieces for sale to raise funds for the cause.

On entering the studio the Sunset Series

Turning right the Figure Stone Series

                  The Found Series some of which were in Frames for the first time one comment Cool !

 Ships and Boats which I had great fun making - the bigger pieces I really like.

 Cliff and Shadow Figures

I love the shadow play on this painting 

'Dunwich beach looking towards Sizewell'

I found the day motivating very worthwhile.

                                                        A couple of pics of our Garden

Found Series and Alfred Wallis

I am experimenting putting some of my current and past pieces into 50cm square recessed frames.

                                                 I think this works well using card mount.

I have made a tissue background to try out on this piece but not sure 

 This is using card mount 

On card mount

It was a joy finding these pieces on walks last week at Dunwich the long thin piece was hidden amidst a lump of sea weed

On tissue - not sure

I have recently been to an Alfred Wallis exhibition at the Time and Tide  museum at Gt.Yarmouth. 

I missed it at Kettles Yard last year and was so pleased to visit with a good friend.

You may remember my obsession with boats from past posts.

I bought a book called ALFRED WALLIS Ships and Boats at the museum that accompanies the exhibition. 

I was sitting on the beach reading it with the sun beating down on my face feeling it energising my spirits. 

Some of the paintings depict boats with large fish swimming underneath  or flying beside them. Wallis often spoke of the fish he painted as the soul of a ship. " for each boat has a soul, a beautiful soul shaped like a fish, so the fish I've painted aren't fish at all, you wouldn't be any good without a soul, would'ee?"

After reading and enjoying over 70 illustrations it contains I decided to go hunting for found objects and I couldn't believe it when I found the fish shaped piece of wood with its gaping mouth and eye also the bird shapes on its tail. So the work in progress shows the soul of the boat on its back.

New Year Paintings

Inspired by  Covehythe and Minsmere walks .

Work in progress