My work is about responding to and capturing what it feels like to be immersed in the Scottish landscape. Walking and observing is my inspiration - the shapes, marks and lines draw me in. The constantly changing weather makes every experience different.
I want to communicate to the viewer how I see the landscape - the wind, the rain, the layers, the remoteness and the beauty. Slowing down and being at one with the place.
I work in acrylic and mixed media on paper and wood panels, applying layer after layer of medium and then sanding back until the feeling I want to achieve emerges. I am fascinated by how line, shapes and colour can trigger memories and feelings from the past. My work is not about a specific place or view but a combination of areas I have spent time in.
I gather source material mainly by working outdoors in a concertina sketchbook. The long, folding format is perfect for capturing the expanse of the landscape, be it mountains or the sea. I came across this way of working from another online Emily Ball Course, “A Sense of Place” taught by Kate Sollohub, thank you Kate!
I also take lots of photos and short videos which help me to remember details when I’m back in the studio. Watching and listening to the videos is a useful way of taking me back to the day’s walk.
Participating in the Paint Fit Course at the end of last year showed me new ways of approaching my work and to “dig deep” and not just skim the surface. Emily is extremely good at helping you to think in a different way and respond to every mark you make in a thoughtful and playful manner. I will continue to develop my art practice by keeping in mind everything I have learnt from the Course - belief, consistency, vision, energy, momentum and possibility. Still very much work in progress but onwards and upwards!
