Artistic Explorations: Relief (1)

In my previous article about Layers & Lines I showed a portfolio of images inspired by the tide and dunes. During my holiday in Poolewe I selected four images to create a relief study in plaster as preparation for the commissioned painting for my friends.

Tide and Dune shapes ©Fenfolio2012

After receiving some useful feedback from the art teacher at Gray's School of Art, I was able to finish the relief study which will be exhibited at the school for a week as part of the short course exhibition. More details can be found under Exhibitions.

The Tide & Dune relief study was made on a 45 x 45 cm MDF board with B & Q powder filler, gesso, palette knife and shapers and then finally sandpapered. For the part on the bottom right real sand from the estuary has been used.

Tide & Dune relief study ©Fenfolio2012

The next and final step will be the real mixed media painting which I will start soon so watch this space!

Artistic Explorations: Highland inspiration

 

Last week we enjoyed a wonderful holiday in Poolewe, North-West Scotland, where we stayed in a very cosy and spacious eco-lodge Coille Bheag with stunning views over Loch Ewe. It inspired me to make a few paintings in acrylics.

Loch Ewe ©Fenfolio2012

Loch Ewe in acrylics ©Fenfolio2012

Loch Ewe, abstract version ©Fenfolio2012

The first few days saw quite good and mild weather. We were able to make a sea kayak trip (the last time was in September 2011) from Cove along the North Coast and explore the rocky shoreline and see some otters!

Kayaking on Loch Ewe ©Fenfolio2012

Going through natural arch ©Fenfolio2012

Making tea with a kelly kettle ©Fenfolio2012

Kayaking along the WWII batteries ©Fenfolio2012

Other days we made long walks such as from Melvaig to Rubh Re lighthouse which has an excellent visitors centre, Flowerdale waterfalls and arboretum near Gairloch and Firemore beach close to the lodge.

Horses in shed ©Fenfolio2012

Rubh Re lighthouse ©Fenfolio2012

Walking along rugged coastline ©Fenfolio2012

Firemore beach ©Fenfolio2012

Whereever we went, I saw something that caught my eye; colours, compositions, textures and shapes in nature, derelict buildings and objects. I'm sure these images will be very useful when I start the photography and art sessions with the youngsters in a few weeks time.

Contrasted branches ©Fenfolio2012

Bark texture I ©Fenfolio2012

Bark texture  II ©Fenfolio2012

Bark texture III ©Fenfolio2012

Bark texture IV ©Fenfolio2012

Bark texture V ©Fenfolio2012

Lichen I ©Fenfolio2012

Lichen II ©Fenfolio2012

 

Lichen III ©Fenfolio2012

Dereliction I ©Fenfolio2012

Dereliction II ©Fenfolio2012

Dereliction III ©Fenfolio2012

Dereliction IV ©Fenfolio2012

Dereliction V ©Fenfolio2012

Rock shapes I ©Fenfolio2012

Rock shapes I ©Fenfolio2012

Rock shapes II ©Fenfolio2012

Rock shapes III ©Fenfolio2012

Rock shapes IV ©Fenfolio2012

Curved I ©Fenfolio2012

Curved II ©Fenfolio2012

Curved III ©Fenfolio2012

Patched I ©Fenfolio2012

Patched II ©Fenfolio2012

Tide line I ©Fenfolio2012

Tide line I ©Fenfolio2012

Corroded I ©Fenfolio2012

Corroded II ©Fenfolio2012

The last few days of our holiday we saw a lot of rain. More the reason to stay inside, chill-out in our lovely lodge, read some books and and create more paintings. I'm currently working on a relief project which involves powder filler and sandpaper!

Artistic Explorations: Layers & Lines (2)

Recently I was approached by a community project coordinator who asked me whether I would be interested in sharing my creative skills  for a new project called Youth Industries, specifically aimed at youngsters between 16 and 20. It didn't take me long to say yes to this new challenge! Although I don't have any experience in leading groups, I do think I can give them creative inspiration and that's what it is all about.
Soon I hope to hear who would be interested in abstract photography and (mixed media) art so I can start organising the sessions. I hope the group will be as excited as I am!

With all of this in mind, I made a beautiful walk along the partially frozen river Dee yesterday and brought along my little compact camera just in case I saw something that I could use for my own artwork and for this project. Well, it was hard to miss the beautiful ice shapes on the river bank. After some tweeks in Photoshop and Lightroom, this is the final result.

Ice shapes ©Fenfolio2012

Artistic Explorations: Layers & Lines (1)

The festive season already seems like a long time ago and life has returned to normal (well, almost). Last week finally saw a great weather spell so I took the opportunity to have a walk, get my head around a new painting friends commissioned me to do and take photos. The fresh air would also help to banish the last remnants of the severe cold I had for several weeks.

My friends live across the Ythan Estuary in Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, a stunning part of the Forvie National Nature Reserve. As I'm fascinated by layers, lines and textures I wanted to create a portfolio of images that would show how tide and wind continuously influence the formation of the dune landscape. I'm very happy with the pictures below because they give me the right inspiration on how to tackle this project. Now it's just a matter of completing the very big painting for my husband I started last week! So many ideas and not enough time, sigh.....

Dune shapes ©Fenfolio2012

Artistic Explorations: Abstraction (3)

After having watched all episodes of BBC's programme "Frozen Planet", and experienced some beautiful Scottish winter weather the last few days, I was inspired to make a painting that would respresent the freeze-and-thaw cycle in the Arctic that is happening every year, but more dramatically in the last decades due to climate change. The way they captured the shapes of the ice plates and icebergs, the icy blue and turquoise colours and the textures that emerge during the freezing process were just jaw-dropping beautiful!

Online research gave me some good reference how to develop my concept. Here is a selection of images that worked really good for me.

Shapes:

Copyright unknown

©Arise and Rejoice

Colours:

©FilipR8

©Porbitel

  Textures:

©Jonas Elmqvist

©Holeinone207

©Sirius_sdz

I finally created this painting called "Ice Formation". It's painted in acrylics on MDF board and the size, including frame, is 61 x 61 cm. The image here shows a frame I created digitally, because the actual frame is currently being made. The rectangular shapes, varying in tones, colour and size, represent the ice plates that are being created by the melting process. The cracks, created by the relief of woodchips, represent the ice crystals that emerge during the freezing process.

This painting has been submitted for BBC's programme "Show me the Monet". Although there is little chance my work will be selected (there will be 3,000 applicants!), it's a nice thought of having one work being inspired by a TV programme and then show it in another one!

Ice Formation ©Fenfolio2011