Still life on a fine day Alizarin and Viridian are two ancient aristocrats in the colour palette; both are cool colours that complement one another. Even their names make them sound like an old married couple – they are old fashioned, highly pigmented and over-the-top in any palette. To be effective they need to be used as glazes or neutralized by one another. They are two eccentric colours which I cannot live without! The painting Still Life on a fine day, inspired by Alizarin and … [Read more...]
REFLECTIONS – Part Three
Last year, I gained an oil painting diploma from Norfolk Painting School under Martin Kinnear. Here are my reflections in a three-part series, Scroll back to read about my early Fine Arts training in South Africa and what I learnt about the tools of the trade. PART ONE 1.I discovered my artistic training genealogy. 2. I learnt the discipline of time at the easel. PART TWO 3. I learnt about the properties of oil paints 4. I learnt different ways of using my tools 5. I plumbed … [Read more...]
REFLECTIONS: Part Two
Last year, I gained an oil painting diploma from Norfolk Painting School under Martin Kinnear. Here are my reflections in a three-part series, Scroll back to read about my early Fine Arts training in South Africa. PART ONE I discovered my artistic training genealogy.I learnt the discipline of time at the easel. PART TWO I learnt about the properties of oil paintsI learnt different ways of using my toolsI plumbed new depths in what I can do. PART THREE My goals changed.My taste … [Read more...]
REFLECTIONS: Part One
These days, in that nebulous time between Christmas and New Year, I like to spend some time reflecting over my year’s artwork and plan the New Year. Before this sounds too introverted, I must confess that this is only since 1998 when we moved from South Africa to the UK and from a Summer Christmas to a Winter Christmas. Before 1998 it was a continual swimming party, wine on the patio and holiday guests in Cape Town where we lived. In fact, I can remember sneaking off from the guests to my … [Read more...]
Drawing the nude
Drawing the nude Poised by Lin Kerr to Illustrate a poetry book 'Dance' Life drawing has always been seen as a terribly important part of an art training, and when a friend raised her eyebrows when I said I was going back to life drawing (as I do periodically) I tried to explain why I think it’s important. Of course if you are a conceptualist or abstract artist, it probably isn’t important because being able to draw competently may not be relevant (I do love abstraction though!) But if … [Read more...]