About Me
I have been painting since the 1970's. My first medium was oils and in the late 1980's I was introduced to pastels as well. I have no formal art education from colleges or universities. Most of my earlier years were spent at local art classes; I have also painted a lot on my own at home, where there are fewer distractions and interruptions.
My working life as a medical technician has tended to make me observe a lot of detail and subtleties; often too much so. I have had to try and learn to balance the desire for detailed information along with a "looser" and broader approach, to avoid laboured paintings. Having picked up oils to use in the 70's, I produced mainly just small local landscapes on canvas-board. Twenty years later, a period of physical discomfort when walking had the effect of restricting my trips out and about, leading to a fresh focus on things around the home; which is how the flower-subjects began.
By the 1990's I was also using soft pastels, having been encouraged to use them as a "rest" from oils. I bought a limited number to begin with, but decided the medium was definitely of interest and thus expanded the range.
My other fascination is with small-format, almost miniature, paintings; thus I am a regular visitor to websites such as Daily Paintworks and artists who work from Pochade Boxes. At one time I produced a number of ACEO watercolour cards, which measure 2.5 x 3.5 inches. I still work at small sizes, often 6 inches square or less, primarily using oils or thinned acrylics.
My pictures focus around floral and landscape themes, but I am not averse to others; e.g buildings, architecture, industrial, all dependent on how I respond to them. Subject-matter is chosen according to what I am interested in and not to follow the art-gallery trends. Lighting effects, sky, shadow, water, seasons, all play a part. My pictures are rarely large; workspace and time constraints demand smaller products.
Although my annual output of work is average, the restraints of 2020 initiated a considerable increase and over fifty works of various sizes and genres were created. Now, as we end 2022, local shows have started again, however I continue to find most of my buyers through the Internet.
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