Southampton artist Gill Drew presented us with several challenges at our May meeting on the theme: "Getting to Know Your Subject". She encouraged us to make changes in our approach to the subject. It proved to be a fascinating evening!
Starting with drawing, we attempted to experience the flowers in different ways using all our senses.
We drew the contours of the flowers on our tables loosely, without continually checking the marks that we were making for accuracy. That meant we also looked at the spaces between the flowers. (This could help our overall composition.)
Next we held a flower behind us and feel its texture. Then we were to draw the texture, still without looking at the flower, using different marks.
After that we recorded our emotional response by writing words to describe how the flowers made us feel.
Progressing to the painting stage, Gill suggested loosely applying thin washes of colour to create a background on a clean sheet of thick A3 paper. Next she showed how she applied paint with a rag, twisting it to suggest petal shapes.
We were not painting individual petals and leaves, but rather making marks to give an overall impression of them.
During those two hours Gill had challenged us to think differently about the way we interpret the things that we choose to paint.
We can try improving our painting style by using our senses in order to achieve a painting with more personal emotion.
Gill exhibits and sells her work and in several exhibitions throughout the year.
See more online at:
https://www.gilldrew.co.uk/.
https://www.instagram.com/gilldrewart/
https://www.facebook.com/gilldrewartist
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