Coastal collages and mixed media

Coast I - IV   15.5x15.5cm each   mixed media and collage   ©2019LisaLeQuelenec

Four little-uns exploring some notes I made during the February project. I have been really enjoying working in this way. After the weekends hot spell and blazing sunshine my palette has brightened again. I seem to be very influenced by the weather and light - I wonder if this is a particularly British thing....we do talk about the weather a lot ;o)

All four are available at SeasidestudiosUK on Etsy.

Coast I   15.5x15.5cm mixed media and collage   ©2018LisaLeQuelenec

Coast II   15.5x15.5cm mixed media and collage   ©2018LisaLeQuelenec

Coast III   15.5x15.5cm mixed media and collage   ©2018LisaLeQuelenec

Coast IV   15.5x15.5cm mixed media and collage   ©2018LisaLeQuelenec

The coast is clear! Etching of Old Harry Rocks

The Coast is Clear!   A/P I etching 14.5x11.5cm   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

Quite some years ago His Nibbs and I went for a walk along the beach at Shell Bay down the way in Studland. We have been many times before and since but there was something about this particular day that sticks out. The sun was out but it was a little hazy, it was neither hot nor cold and there was just a gentle breeze. The water looked glass-like - but with strong contrasts in tone on the surface ripples. Colour was bleached out everything reduced to tones of blue grey. What I remember the most was the stillness and quiet. The quiet sounded loud but gentle if you know what I mean.

Old Harry Rocks photograph ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

I took this photograph and along with the memory of that day it has been the inspiration for many drawings, paintings and now an etching. So far I have made two proof prints and have used paper masks to add some sail boat shapes. I think I could make variations of work on this one memory for many years to come.

Light Across the Bay   acrylic on paper 25x25cm   ©2011 LisaLeQuelenec

Above an older painting from 2011, long since sold but one of my favourites.

Old Harry Rocks  snippets and ideas in mixed media   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

I wonder do you have a memory or lasting impression of a time and place that you revisit in your work again and again?

The Coast is Clear!   A/P II etching 14.5x11.5cm   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

Sailing at the Ocean's End

Sailing at the Ocean's End   acrylic on canvas board 20x20cm   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

I couldn't resist trying another version and including the sail boat. I wonder if this one reads as a larger expanse of space compared to the one in the previous post. What do you think?


This painting is available on Etsy at Seaside studios UK.  and as a print on RedBubble.

Colour inspiration   ©2017LisaLeQuelenec

Storms End

Storms End   17x17cm watercolour on paper   ©2015Lisa Le Quelenec

With all the printmaking going on I have made a little time for painting too. A small painting inspired by the end of some wild weather. This painting is available at my Etsy store here

A storm in a WIP....

Guiding Light (unfinished)  acrylic on canvas 50x50cm   ©2014Lisa Le Quelenec

I didn't appreciate before just how long putting together a blog post takes. There has been painting going on during the past month just not much time to sit at the pooter to edit pictures and get a post together......must try harder.

This is the canvas that I have been battling with. I think I am almost there. I need to live with it a while to 'see' the adjustments that need to be made. I feel that it needs more colour. The reality is not so contrasty and more warmer and subtle in the tones but the camera hasn't picked that up. So the battle continues....

©2014Lisa Le Quelenec

I started by going through my colour notes sketchbook and choosing my palette. I wanted to keep the colour fairly subtle and not too dark. It was important to me that the colours leaned to the warm side, to give the feeling of the hot, humid, heavy feeling before a storm. This palette of ivory black, indanthrene, azure blue, buff titanium and parchment fitted the bill. I have added titanium and zinc white and a touch of pthalo turquoise to the mix.

©2014Lisa Le Quelenec

Blocking in and deciding the tonal patterns are my starting point. Everything is very rough and ready getting the bare bones down quickly. I stayed fairly close to the original watercolour which you can see in my previous post here .

©2014Lisa Le Quelenec

I was starting to work on the shafts of sunlight by dry brushing the paint and added the sail of the yacht in. The painting was trying to tell me that it needed something else. Something subtle but very necessary was missing.

©2014Lisa Le Quelenec

I did what I usually do when faced with such a dilemma. I turned to my sketchbooks. Flicking through I found a tiny sketch of the Isle of Wight and the Needles and decided that the small little detail was just what I needed. I had to keep it subtle though I didn't want anything fighting with the light which is the focal point of the painting.

My sketchbooks are beyond valuable to me and such an important part of the way that I work. Sometimes just for small details like this and the notes about light and atmosphere.

©2014Lisa Le Quelenec

I kept the tones very close so that the land is a mere suggestion. It also appeals to me that the there is a second 'guiding light' with the addition of the lighthouse but that it is outweighed by nature's guiding light.

©2014Lisa Le Quelenec

Reassessing the painting I concluded that the yacht was now too far over to the right of the composition and needed to move to the left a little. I also increased the scale. The sail is acting like an arrow to the sun streaming through the cloud.

Inspired by this years storms

This Winter saw some terrible storms here in the UK with much damage and flooding. As well as flooding from the river and very high tides locally we have also had some landslides with sections of the cliffs tumbling onto the beach. Luckily they have happened at times when no one was around to get hurt. As much as I love a good storm to clear the air, this Winter was hard on many people and I could take no pleasure in them.

This painting was inspired by the feeling of the dark and relentless rain - longing for drier days to come.

Toward the light   watercolour on paper 20x20cm ©2014 Lisa Le Quelenec

Those drier days are here now, touch wood, we have had some lovely hot weather. I still spare a thought for those who are still waiting for their houses to dry out though. It's such a long process and there must be quite a few still waiting to get back to normal.

I enjoy painting storms in watercolour and am wondering if they would work as well in acrylic on a large scale. What do you think? Whilst I like dark watercolour I'm not so keen on dark acrylic, perhaps because of the more dense nature of the medium. I would have to adjust it to a brighter tonal range perhaps? Time to experiment....

At the edge

At The Edge     acrylic on paper 12.5x12.5cm      ©2013Lisa Le Quelenec

One of my favourite places and favourite times of day....... Another day of summer heat here but I think it is all change tomorrow as the temperature is supposed to drop 10 degrees bringing rain. I'm looking forward to a change of season.

Elemental II

Elemental II   9x9cm mixed media   ©2012Lisa Le Quelenec

I've been feeling a little under the weather lately so there hasn't been much painting going on this last couple of weeks. I have been catching up on some reading though, dipping in and out of Delacroix's journal and a book that I stumbled across on Amazon, Gist of Art by John Sloan. Both of which are fascinating. The Delacroix book is a feast for the senses it's printed on very fine paper (I'd estimate 50gsm though it may be finer) and makes a lovely rustling sound which adds to the sense of stepping back in time. It's an older second hand copy and is just starting to get that wonderful scent of old book. The weather has been miserable and it is still quite cold so there has been no better medicine than hunkering down with a good book. Hopefully this bug is now on it's way and I'll be back next week with some new work to share.

A Shining Sea

A Shining Sea   20x20cm acrylic on canvas board   ©2013Lisa Le Quelenec

I've been day dreaming of summer evenings strolling at the beach.....

Evening sail

So much can change minute to minute or less at this time of day. What a challenge to paint and try to capture it! I painted these from a group of sketches, photos and memories that I made at the beach in Southbourne during the summer. All the work done on site is invaluable during the winter months when it is too wet to get outside. The rich store of information sees me through the winter.

Evening Sail I 10x10cm acrylic on canvas ©2012LisaLeQuelenec

Evening Sail II 10x10cm acrylic on canvas ©2012LisaLeQuelenec

Cloud Watching

Cloud Watching   11x11cm acrylic on board   ©2012LisaLeQuelenec

A tiny painting to peer into.

At the shore

At the Shore   15.5x15.5cm acrylic on paper   ©2012 Lisa Le Quelenec

Standing at the shore, listening to the tide gently rolling in and enjoying the autumn light. The chilly edge in the air smells of Autumn now and I will be digging out warmer clothes soon.

The painting above is available in my Etsy Store  here .

Getting ready for the Kaleidoscope show at Highcliffe Castle

Elemental I - VI   mixed media 9x9cm images   ©2012 Lisa Le Quelenec

All framed and ready to go to the Kaleidoscope Exhibition at Highcliffe Castle. I've framed these little works with stand backs so that they can be displayed on a shelf or hung on a wall. I've found this to be a popular way of displaying these small scale works. I spent a large chunk of yesterday at the framers,  Coastline Arts,  ordering mounts and some last minute framing. (Thank you guys, you really are stars!). I will also be exhibiting some larger pieces and a selection of unframed, mounted paintings.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the work by the other artists. The Castle gallery is a beautiful space to exhibit and once your eyes have been tempted by the beautiful art and craft you could then pop across to the lovely tea rooms to be tempted by fare of a different kind :o) . This exhibition runs from 24th October - 23rd December.

Finding the right title - elemental

Elemental II   9x9cm mixed media   ©2012 Lisa Le Quelenec

I did a lot of thinking about a title for this series of tiny works. In my sketchbooks are lists of words, ideas for titles, hurriedly scribbled notes made whilst in the middle of a painting. None of these seemed to fit. Quite a few words came to mind but none seemed to capture exactly what I was aiming for. I started to look at dictionary definitions which helped to clarify in my own mind, in words, what it was that I want to say. I often find titling work the hardest part of the creative process, to articulate the idea and to be succinct can be a big challenge. I want to give the viewer a clue as to what I am aiming at without dictating to them how they are supposed to respond. I find this is a tricky line to walk.

Elemental was a word that I had kept coming back to, below is the definition of  'Elemental' as an adjective from  http://oxforddictionaries.com

 
'forming an essential or typical feature; fundamental... related to or embodying the powers of nature... (of an emotion) powerful and primitive...'


How do you title your works? Do you find it as hard as I do? Do you think titles are important? Maybe you think that all that needs to be said is within the work itself? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Elemental III   9x9cm mixed media   ©2012 Lisa Le Quelenec

 

September storms - part 2

Before the Storm Broke   watercolour on paper 17x17cm   ©2012 Lisa Le Quelenec

The rain, it kept on coming. The news was reporting the worst September storms for thirty years and seventy flood warnings were in place, mostly in the North. Flood water has caused a lot of destruction already and I hope everyone stays safe.

On the coast the rain clouds started to disperse and we had intervals of intense, bright sun. Intuition is now taking over painting these watercolours as I start to add tiny amounts of other colours. In the painting above small hints of raw sienna are used in the sky at the horizon and in some of the cloud.  I've also added a tiny amount of gouache for the sails and sparkle of the water. Unusually for me this one is painted on rough Arches. Whilst I frequently used to use rough paper in the passed the last couple of years I have preferred hot press. I shall continue to experiment with it for now.

Today the sun is shining and it feels like a crisp autumnal day so I will head to the beach to walk and make the most of it whilst it's here.

 More postcard sized experiments.

Sunday sailing

After a gloriously sunny Sunday it's back to being chilly and grey today making photographing this painting hard work. (The sky is slightly bluer in the painting than this picture shows.) A sleepy evening sail on a silent sea.

After my trip home I am having trouble settling down to work as there are so many ideas running through my mind. It's the opposite to painter's block and just as tricky to overcome when there just aren't enough hours in the day. I've been making lots of thumbnails and notes to get things jotted down on paper so as not to forget. Any tips for silencing my inner butterfly would be greatly appreciated.

Sunday Sailing acrylic on canvas board 20x20cm ©2012 Lisa Le Quelenec