Artist of the week - Judy - ART House Studios

Artist of the week - Judy

9/27/2021

Are you staying creative during lockdown?
A positive outcome of Covid lockdown has been the length of idle time available for selfless creative activities. My main passion has always been gardening and I wouldn’t be happy if I didn’t wander in my garden or the local community garden each day. Creativity enriches my life on so many levels, art, food, gardening, books, teaching grand-children etc.

Favourite medium and subject matter?
The range of artists introduced in class has broadened my subject matter for paintings and application style.
Painting and mosaics have been important activities for me but I’ve discovered I can control colour better with mosaics than paint. Initially I started with oil paints on canvas using the landscape and flowers for inspiration trying to create Monet influenced work.
Later, when my children were young I spent time in Colorado and New Mexico being influenced by American Indian and Spanish art works painting more abstract/graphic works with gouache on paper.
Since attending Priya’s Art House Studio I have been using water colours, acrylic paints and soft pastels. Watercolour painting was difficult for me as I tended to apply too much paint and not leave enough white space. I struggled with acrylic paint at first but now enjoy quick drying time and flexibility of application.

What are your artistic goals?
To have a greater understanding of the impact of colour in an original composition.
I like the results of soft pastels used on my paintings as well. They seem to soften the edges for a more harmonious outcome.

Which artists and/or places around the world have inspired you?
The artists I admire and who have influenced me are -

Claude Monet for his garden and his garden paintings being lucky to have visited his garden, Giverny and viewed many original paintings in galleries,
Gustav Klimt for his use of gold leaf and abstract compositions,
Antonio Gaudi where I wandered the streets of Barcelona marvelling his decorative mosaics, incredibly different architectural homes and the spectacular cathedral, Familia Granada nearing completion 2026.
I love all the impressionist painters for their clever use of colour and emphasis on light especially Van Gogh’s gorgeous landscapes and flowers.