My Arts Practice

It should be evident by my paintings that I love roses. Some artists may pick a human muse, for me it’s roses. Not flowers in general, but roses. The reason for this I think is that my grandmother always grew roses and my grandmother’s house was where I always felt safe. I also find them very difficult to paint in the realism sense so I don’t try to. Instead I try to interpret my roses.

I work in both oils and acrylics but I’m currently favouring oils. They take longer to dry but also allow for that lovely rich ice creamy effect that you can achieve with a palette knife. Art is not about perfection, it’s about interpretation.

I work in a few different creative fields. I paint, I write, I make patchwork quilts, I design interiors. Sometimes when I am stuck on one thing, writing for instance, I move to another creative field to help me loosen up. I often find that when my mind is stuck, working with my hands brings me into a creative space and the words start to flow. Visual arts and writing with me have always gone hand in hand.

Sound, sight and smell are very important to me. Some artists may work well in chaos, I do not. When I am preparing to create I have a ritual. I light my fragrant candles, I play music, usually yoga music or classical and, if my garden is blooming, I pick some roses. I tone down the energy to allow creative energy to flow through me.