‘Exploring Oil Painting’ Workshop, (Sea Music Project)

My Oil Painting Workshop was on 12^th November 12-4pm, 5^th floor, Poole Museum, supported by Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery Fund.

What a fantastic event! A great opportunity to share an afternoon with ladies who were obviously incredible artists but who were not familiar with oil paints. I introduced the equipment needed and demonstrated possible approaches to applying the paint. I provided small pieces of primed canvas to encourage experimentation with the different approaches and equipment. The success of the day hinged on how amazingly they all threw themselves into playing with oil paints! They embraced the idea of just trying things and seeing how they went. There was paint everywhere (messiest students ever but it was brilliant!) and faces of enjoyment all round! The work produced was fantastic and each person engaged with the paint in a different way, with some abstract influences and some bold studies of the Sea Music sculpture! Perfect for the aim of the residency! We had some great art discussions and some lovely chats. What a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon, topped off with some mini mince pies I took along to get the festive season started! A HUGE thank you to everyone involved!

Exhibition Private View

Sea Music in Residence – October 21^st 2017, 2-4pm, Poole Museum, supported by Arts Council England and Heritage Lottery Fund.

The private view event celebrated the conservation of ‘Sea Music’ by Anthony Caro. The first floor gallery displayed the work of the two artist residencies, (myself and Jonathan Parsons), as well as the writer in residence (Becci Louise Fearnley). There was a choir singing a specially commissioned piece within the museum. The 2^nd floor gallery housed a display of work inspired by ‘Sea Music’ created by residents and visitors to Poole and there was a dance performance on the viewing platforms of the sculpture on the Quay. The dance event was performed at dusk on the evening of the 20^th October due to stormy weather due on the day of the private view, creating an atmospheric and impactful performance.

I spoke to many visitors during the private view event, talking about my work and my approach to the residency, but also gaining information from the visitors about their own experiences of the sculpture. The ‘Artists Talk’ took place at 3.15pm within the gallery space. We were able to talk about our specific influences and how those influences manifested themselves within our work. My own painting practice was inspired by the impact of the sculpture on the Quay and in turn the impact of the Quay on the sculpture. I talked about my source collection methods, spending time at the sculpture, the small details within the environment, the sounds ingrained within the experience of being on the Quay and my approach to creating my work. I discussed the soft, free-hanging swathes of canvas used as the base for the oil paintings, referencing the sails on the boats and the soaring sounds of the sea birds. I explained my varied approach to painting application and my layering techniques and the negative spaces within the sculpture that inspired shapes and forms on the canvas surface.

The event was a success with many visitors and a fantastic opportunity to showcase creative work inspired by the stunning Anthony Caro sculpture. It was fantastic to have such an amazing brief with which to approach an artist residency in such a beautiful setting. Thank you to everyone involved for a fantastic residency opportunity and the chance to show my work in the beautiful setting of Poole Museum. I am very proud of the exhibition and I hope everyone can go to see it before it closes on 7^th January 2018!