In the Picture – July 2012

Earth Angels Art

 

Earth Angels Art is the name of Amanda Clark’s Pop-up Gallery!

Amanda’s paintings are a rich tapestry of colour, fairytale, myth and legend. Inspired by the magical and mysterious tales she has been reading and studying since childhood and the enchanting English countryside where she has lived all her life.

 

The colours she uses in each piece of art portrays the mood and essence of a tale that has been told through the centuries, but with a contemporary twist.

 

“The old fairytales have such an other worldly presence that can take the reader or listener on a fantastic journey of wonder and a special connection that is passed on through the ages. When I’m painting, I’m naturally on a journey of my sub-conscious, and the images are truly of ‘another world’ which I feel the fairytales and myths are born”.

 

Each piece of Amanda’s art is painted in jewel like colours with acrylic paint, adding layers, glazes and fine detail and sometimes mica for iridescent texture. For very special commissions, Amanda makes her own paints using egg tempura and natural pigments.

 

Amanda’s family are all of the creative kind, whether it be music, art and crafts or writing. She has illustrated 4 books for her brother Robin Clark and has art published in ‘Earth Pathways Diaries’. She is hoping to write and illustrate a book of her own for next year.

The URL to Amanda’s Pop-up Gallery is http://www.i2popupgallery.com/popup/Earth-Angels-Art.html

Patricia Arts

We are pleased to introduce you to the paintings of Patrica Palmer…

My art training in the 70’s in Leeds (Teacher Training College, Headingley), was graphic based: the following years of teaching developed my abilities in a variety of art and craft skills. After 22 years in the classroom I decided to return to study.  I started the first full time course in 2000 at Cambridge Regional College and continued there for the next 5 years: Foundation, HND, Diploma and finally BA Hons, I graduated from A.P.U. Cambridge in 2005 achieving a high class degree in Fine Art, specializing in painting.

After years of being trapped in a reality that didn’t meet my needs, through art I have regained control over my life. My artworks have become a representation of my life with the concepts of freedom, control and escapism regularly appearing in the form of grids, windows, doorways and spaces.

My Themes

Themes for work come into my head when they are ripe and ready to explore: the starting points are from references found in the landscape. I spend a lot of time In Aldeburgh, Suffolk. I love the ever changing skies, and sea. I enjoy warmer climates too, so holidays are spent in regions where the sun shines.  Sunsets are usually dramatic and I love sundried buildings and ancient churches with their beautiful stained glass. I love going on trips to more mountainous regions where round each corner there are breath taking views: lakes like mirrors, deep valleys, glowing deserts and tall trees. It is these experiences which give me inspiration.

My Process

At first, I explore the ideas through drawing, painting and collage, on paper (postcard size) using all mediums.

I work from memory in order to sift away the unessential revealing only the typical, although, I do refer to photographs if I need to check a specific detail/ colour/ shape/ position in space etc.

I try out different formats, scale and size on paper to see which is appropriate for my theme before going on to canvas. Colours are softened or intensified, perspective flattened and features simplified. These methods help me to create an impression of the landscape, which is both believable and imaginary. My work, though abstract in appearance is for me representational and my paintings are how I see the world and how the world makes me feel.

I hope that the viewer will respond freely to my work and make connections with her or his own experiences.

Patricia’s Pop-up Gallery URL is http://www.i2popupgallery.com/popup/Patricia-Arts.html

In the Picture – June 2012

Artist Corner

Introducing ‘Artist Corner’, the Pop-up Gallery exhibiting works by Barbara Harlow.

I have always enjoyed painting ever since I was at school and promised myself that I would come back to it one day. That day was a long time in coming, what with marriage and two children and all that that entails, but eventually I found time for myself and took lessons to give myself the feel again. I was lucky enough to meet a lady who was an extremely good artist and she kindly took me under her wing and gave me one to one tuition. I learnt a great deal from her and also how to walk and look at my surroundings and absorb the feelings and atmosphere of the Fens where I grew up and still live. This has held me in good stead. A while later I met another excellent teacher who took me a step further. They both gave me great inspiration for which I will always be grateful.

I enjoy trying to create atmosphere, my favourite types of pictures are East Anglian skies and landscape. Living close to Wicken Fen has inspired me to paint there quite often and I really enjoy painting the Fen in all its moods. A keen gardener, flowers quite often feature in my paintings as well. I paint in Oils, Watercolours and Pastels.

Running an Art shop and Gallery for fourteen years, gave me a great insight into the art world. I semi retired a few years ago to concentrate more on my own art work. I exhibit a great deal locally and also belong to the Cambridge Open Studios.

The URL for Artist Corner is http://www.i2popupgallery.com/popup/Artist-Corner.html