…becoming more abstract??

As I look forward to the third and final year of my Art Degree I am asked to commit to a project brief that describes how my art practice will develop! What a daunting prospect! I want to stay focused on landscape and continuing that exploration of the world as I cycle through it, capturing the changing landscape as I go. Inspired by artists like Paul Nash, Joan Eardley and Ivon Hitchins I am drawn to a more expressive, slightly more abstract style whilst retaining a sense of place, retaining the meaning of each piece.

This summer I have begun to test this, taking on views of High Hooton Clump, Estfeld Farm and my Harvest Series to see how far I can go and how long it will take to adopt a new style. The early signs are promising but there’s a long way to go!!

I have painted High Hooton Clump about 5 times now and each time it evolves a little. Here working on cardboard I like the colours and the movement in the grass meadow. The clouds need some work!!

The Harvest Series was a great opportunity to get outside with my sketch book and capture the harvest as it developed in and around Tickhill. I returned to the medium of oils after a couple of years using Acrylics for convenience really. Oils were a joy to work with again, bringing more texture and subtle colours to the pictures. Once varnished the work seems to come to life!

I’m not entirely sure if I have moved very far on the journey to developing a more expressive style. I have set myself an objective to explore this in my final year at University so lets see what happens. I will keep working and looking and visiting galleries for inspiration. And I will continue to ride my bike through the landscape as summer gives way to autumn and the colour develops.