A Little Abstraction

A few months ago I picked up a paintbrush again after a 26 year hiatus. I haven’t made art with paint since I was 20 years old but for Queen Marie’s birthday I decided I wanted to make her a painting of clouds, in memory of her mum.

At first I couldn’t even remember the basics - how to prep a canvas; do I begin doing the background first or the main subject; is acrylic paint water soluble. Once I got to grips with the basics I immediately started to remember why I stopped making art - the self loathing! It’s no exaggeration to say the artists soul is one of crippling self doubt and criticism. As I progressed the painting I began to pick at all it’s flaws and imperfections. I painted over bits multiple times when I perceived them as not matching the vision I had in my head. It was not an easy process. When I finally finished one, and by finished I mean I had to ,make myself stop working on it before I tore my hair out, I decided to begin another in a slightly different style. The first painting was dark blue and heavy, with clouds filled with rain and sadness but behind them there are rays of sun. Little rays of brightness poking through the gloom. It’s a storm and like all storms it will pass. The second painting I made was bright, bold and cheerful. So my sky was flat and bright blue with not even a tiny flaw in it’s colour and the clouds are fluffy light….and pink! A candyfloss sky.

Whilst overall the process was emotionally draining, none the less it did make me want to explore making art again. I’ve been absorbing lots of art for the last few months and since Queen Marie’s birthday paintings I have explored abstract art, which I’d never tried before. It was rather timely then that I was recently contacted by Canadian artist Darlene Watson, sharing her abstract art with me.

Darlene’s background is in interior design and she has a love of colour and fashion which show themselves in her bright, bold work.