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Links
in this section:
My
work has been featured in:
The Green Pebble
All issues
www.greenpebble.co.uk
Artists and Illustrators
Issue 263 August 2008
A 4-page article, called An Affinity with Flowers featuring full page illustration called A Sunflower Collection
The Artist
November 2001
Cover story, Masterclass: Vibrancy in Pastel
Pastel Artist International
Issue 11 September/October 2001
An 8-page article, Simply Irresistible Subjects, which included a step-by-step demonstration.
International Artist
Issue 19 June/July 2001
Master Painters of the world - reproduced below
Pastel Artist International
Issue 3 Feb/Mar/Apr 2000
Master Painters of the world - reproduced below
International
Artist
Issue 19 June/July 2001
page 79, Master Painters of the world
Yellow
Pansies on a blue chair
pastel, 25" x 19"
Sensation
One sunny July afternoon I was looking for a subject to paint. I
asked the man painting my house (I was making a cup of tea for him
at the time) if he had an old garden chair which I could use as
a prop for a picture. Off he went and came back with the blue chair,
much to my delight. Within a very short time I had set up the group
so that the sun just shone through the trellis onto the pansies
and the chair seat. I quickly got my light easel, stool, pastels
and board set up. Sometimes the sun is so fleeting in England that
by the time you get it altogether the weather has changed. This
time I was in luck.
Process
For this work I used Caput Mortuum Red pastel board which has a
soft even finish and is quite a dark colour. I work within an old
mount which restricts me to the size that I know will fit my frames.
To achieve this type of painting I need the group set up for many
consecutive days, with the sun at just the same angle. Because this
is quite difficult in our climate, I knew that I had to get the
atmosphere and all the important patches of sunlight and main shadows
marked in at the first session. I quickly sketched in these details
with hard pastels and at the same time keep taking photos so I could
finish it off in the studio if I had to. This time everything went
like magic from the start - what joy!
Pastel
Artist International
Issue 3 Feb/Mar/Apr 2000
page 107, Master painters showcase
  Yellow
Reflections
pastel and watercolour
13" x 9.5"
Sensation
As a professional artist painting flowers and gardens every day,
life drawing is my special treat. The flower pictures take a long
time as they are often very detailed, but my life drawing is just
the opposite - fast, loose and sometimes just splashes of colour,
the outline of the body hardly there. Most importantly, I don't
want the drawing to look as if the model stopped breathing two hours
ago! I am only interested in that single moment - it's as if the
body is in motion and you catch the wonderful reflections on the
skin.
I
work at a nightclass with many other artists. Frequently the model
is not in the best position, or cannot be seen properly, and the
light is in the wrong place, but just occasionally it's your favourite
model, you are in the right mood, the light is right - fantastic!
Process
The night I did this picture it all gelled. I always draw on different
coloured backgrounds which forces me to experiment, so before going
to class I prepared bits of smooth paper with watercolour - anything
that comes to hand - great fun! I took hard and soft pastels. I
always do the 15 minute pose so that I do not have time to think,
just react to the pose.
I
spent very little time sketching in the shape and then just went
for patches of colour, a piece of bright yellow cloth and its reflection,
then the deep shadows and highlights. Next I put in the softer colours
and shapes and somehow, like a jigsaw, it began to fit together
and the figure seemed to emerge out of the background. Being short
of time I only put in a bit of background colour and added a bit
more at home. My rule is not to fiddle with the pose after it is
finished.
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