Nordic Climes- the antidote to lockdown
Penned in, only allowed out to walk a dog or go to a shop during the UK lockdown, my mind started to wander to the landscapes that allow me to breathe deeply and feel free. I have never been to Norway, but I allowed myself to imagine that my view through the window could look like this if I lived there. Hide with the deer and soar with the birds... and breathe the fresh, icy air...
This is a larger canvas 120cms x 70cms. the painting is with silk paints on silk. Once the fabric is painted, it is then stretched across and mounted onto the canvas.
Painted during lockdown, spring 2020.
Silk is hard to paint onto, especially slub silk (with the lumps in it) for two reasons: firstly, the ink bleeds easily (especially with a larger piece, which has to be elevated vertically to be painted) and secondly, when you water a colour down and apply it, the water discolours the fabric so you don't actually know how it will look once it dries. Awkward as it is, I like that... I never really feel in control when I paint on silk- it is as much the artist as I am.
