'flora'
The Artist’s Story:
This summer has been particularly hot (one day was 44.8 degrees!), and, as my only air-con. is in my Studio, I decided on a painting theme that I could work on in climate-controlled conditions…... flowers. Each week I went to the local weekend markets for fresh flowers, and sometimes raided friends’ gardens.
I also made quite a project of frequenting Op (Charity) Shops, looking for interesting vases and fabrics. Using the flowers (and some plants) as the focal point, I arranged compositions in my cool Studio. Typically, each painting followed a particular theme or idea, unique to itself. Some used complex patterns, textures and objects (especially lace!), while others had simple spots and/or stripes (“Red Gerberas and a Portuguese Rooster”). Most of the paintings include a ‘foreigner’, usually a Treasure that I have brought home from my travels – the wooden giraffe that I bought in the markets of Nairobi, a jade temple dog from China, an Egyptian ibis.
Each painting has a distinctive and specific colour scheme that enhances the subject matter or theme, like the hot oranges, yellows, reds and pink in the painting “Chillies and Some Mexican Parrots”.
All the paintings are executed in mixed media. I worked (cool and comfortable!) in my Studio, surrounded by a dozen or more different mediums, and moved from one to another and back again, as the mood, chance, or the required effects dictated.
This was a great advantage of being in my Studio, rather than my frequent practice of painting en plein air. Often I am restricted in what media I use by the sheer logistics of getting to the painting location. There are obvious limitations as to what one can carry on foot, or on a motorbike, or indeed these days take on an aeroplane. So to have everything at my disposal, within arm’s reach, was great fun.
Which media choices to make?
o Know your materials, how they react, what they can do
o ………while allowing for experimenting with new ideas and combos
o ………and recognize the serendipitous experience – the fortunate accident
o ………but know when to stop!
I have enjoyed the happy subject matter and the freedom of working with a wide choice of media while discovering new effects and combinations. Meanwhile, back at the ranch….. my house has been in chaos, with vases of flowers on all surfaces, and cupboards tipped out in the search for colours, patterns and textures. Treasures have been taken down from shelves, found in boxes, examined and enjoyed yet again……while I have remained cool and productive throughout a very hot summer!
Laura Cole, March 2008