Newsletter: March 2021

31 Mar

Written By JO YORK

Brimham Rocks-one of my favourite lockdown haunts.

We’re currently trying to move house, so I’ve been in a blur of cleaning, tidying up and viewings all month, and it’s dawned on me how much I really don’t enjoy cleaning!! Oh well it’s in a good cause with a bit of luck…I have had far fewer studio hours though, and so decided not really to start anything big…

Instead I spent ages trying finally to finish a painting I had been working on for over a year! The reason it’s taken so long is that it’s painted in many layers of oils, with a really textured surface so it takes forever to dry out, and also because I can’t use oils for too long as the solvents have a bad effect on my asthma. A benefit of the fact it’s taken so long is that I’ve been experimenting with some water soluble oils which require no solvents- in the past these have not been very satisfying but I’ve been trying Cobra Artists Oils, and found them really good. This genuinely is a breakthrough for me as usually I can only really use oils in the summer with all the studio doors and windows open!

I also started out with the idea of saying something about water, in a very loose unstructured way…which actually proved a complicated thing to achieve! I went through so many variations, repainted layers and racked my brains until finally, I’m now feeling really happy with the result. Unfortunately, this one has dragged on for so long that I’ve not remembered to record all the stages, but the way it worked was that I built the canvas up in layers, each one being predominantly one colour. Each new layer created a more subtle feel, as sections of previous areas were allowed to show through giving a very complicated picture surface. It was a new technique for me, and one I might play with and develop again.

The little video above shows me working on the last layers…sometimes fingers really are the best tools! For these last layers I was using the non solvent oils, and must say they have the same lovely buttery feel of standard oils, but with almost no smell, and best of all you can wash up with just soap and water-wonderful!

Close up detail from the finished painting, showing textured areas and vigorous mark making

In the photo above, you can see the thickly textured surface, and also get an idea of all the different mark making used to suggest movement in the water….the complete painting is shown below.

On the Nature of Water 76cm x 76cm Oils in many layers and with impasto on canvasPlease look at my portfolio page and DM for details — On the Nature of Water
76cm x 76cm Oils in many layers and with impasto on canvas
Please look at my portfolio page and DM for details

Apart from that, I’ve been thinking about some new work, based on drawings and research from trips to Cornwall. So far I’m at an early stage; just playing with small studies, making notes and colour swatches….And below I’m teasing some new work playing with the rhythm of rocks and water…more to come next month!