Vidya’s Blog

Having been relatively unfocused after my ‘too much suffering’ Painting episode, some new themes have emerged and a new focus. I am revisiting some themes from nature which have always been recurrent in my work throughout my career as an artist. Using images spanning several years of work I have been experimenting with colour copies and layering of images which have then provided the basis for some mixed media work. The image here is hot off the press but hopefully gives a flavour for these new themes. The actual size is A4, which is standard for much of what I’m doing at the moment and the media wax pastels and acrylic on colour inkjet print. More to come hopefully!!

There was no hesitation, my resolve was strong - I was going in! Perhaps the fact that it wasn’t such a hot day made it easier, with less apparent chill from the water. It was time to christen the new body board, not a problem considering the surf but the reckless element to the whole episode was going in without a wetsuit. My determination overrode my better judgement, but actually it was fine. Wetsuits signify you know what you are doing although this was evidently not the case from what I could see.

 So what does this have to do with being an artist? Very little except that I am making a bid to widen my remit as a blogger. I did however take a detour to the Yarmouth Gallery on the way home as I had been thinking about a particular purchase of a pair of mini canvases by emerging artist Lynn Young. I like the richness of colour and texture in her work, so if you would like to take a look, visit www.lynnyoung.co.uk.

Thanks, Shaky for your comment. Actually, I find the original version by Neil Young quite an inspiration. I’m only too glad to endorse ‘Keep on rocking in the free world’. At the end of the day its all about freedom of expression whether that be music within repressed regimes, the visual arts or any other art form.

 Well, I have to say that there are various allied activities that are very freeing for creativity and have allowed me to ‘think outside the box’ during this gap since last posting. One way forward has been gathering together teaching resources. I work in an environment that has a strong dependency on secondary source material such as photographs, images from magazines etc. Although this can be construed as limiting, it has propelled me into looking at images I have taken of my own work and how they might be useful as a teaching aid. One such image is shown here, as featured on my web pages. Interestingly, the photograph is very different from the actual work, which is a 3D piece (one of my rare departures from the world of 2D) in that there is a semi-opaque layer of organza that doesn’t show well on the photo! Ofcourse there really is no substitute for viewing the original work, which I would only be too happy to arrange by appointment for potential buyers!! However, I digress. The so-called copy of originals sends me off into all sorts of different directions creatively and has often been a feature of my work. Having painted in earnest up until relatively recently, I realise there has been a bit too much suffering for my art and not enough enjoyment. I am therefore indulging in an unfocused frenzy of activity, allowing myself the opportunity to go with many more ideas at one time than I would otherwise do. I’m following my instincts on this one and feel that whatever emerges will be valid even if it is nolonger televisions! One of the regular walks I do locally, takes me past the town cemetery and I have to say this is a place that fascinates me on various levels (no pun intended). I was drawn there many years ago as an ecologist for the green-winged orchids, which were carefully mown around to provide pockets of wild spaces. I still regard the site as a haven for wildlife and as a peaceful place just beyond the housing estates and on the industrial fringe of town. Forgive me if I start to sound a bit like a town planner. Not having posted for a while is causing me to ramble. What I want to say is that the local enviroment is another source of inspiration that has been staring me in the face and has until now been a largely untapped reservoir of ideas. I have embarked on something entitled ‘the spirits of the dead’ which has what I regard as spiritual content but doesn’t require a public health warning. It’s always hard blogging and writing about ideas and themes that are only half formulated but hopefully this will keep you reading for just a while longer.

Hello, I’m back after an absence from the studio due to ill health. The TV theme continues and is for me a comment on the technological age we live in. The red is receding from my work and on the whole has been overtaken by a more muted palette. Watch this space for images.

Painting large-scale has had some interesting results, not least the emergence of televisions! Atleast I think that’s what they are, as far as having any definite intention goes. On a smaller scale I’ve been able to repeat the idea with the TV in mind, producing a series of sketches in paint in what has almost been a meditation in subtle tones but with a defining red border each time. Watch out for more musings ‘On the Box’.

Business as usual really, although I have had a brief break from the studio whilst house sitting over the other side of the Island. I’ve had the opportunity to do some writing without any definite project in mind. I think some of what I have to say will be complimentary to the visual art form. A nature journal may be taking shape as I have had opportunity to be out on the chalk downs and refresh some of my original training as an Ecologist, making notes on the natural history as well as enjoying simply being out there beyond the town and studio environment.

 Getting back to the studio though, it has been fruitful to return to painting and the liberal use of red paint. I have had to obliterate areas, hinting at what lay beneath. A little more colour has appeared but I wouldn’t say I’m as much of a colourist at the moment as I have been in the past. This doesn’t bother me too unduly  as handling the red is a continuing challenge as well as being on familiar territory. I’m sometimes asked “why red?” or “where does the red originate in my work?” These are questions I can only answer with a question: “Did I chose red or did red chose me?” I’ll leave you to ponder that one. Answers on a postcard…..

Still continuing on with the large canvases and exploring what for me is an interior space, a recurring theme in the new work emerging this year so far. I have a few smaller sketches in paint which seem to be something to refer to with the large scale work. This helps to keep me grounded and there is a particular colour palette that remains constant. A red ground is the starting point and there’s also red on red, which is basically red! Hope you are still following me here. I will endeavour to put some images on the website pages, so that it all begins to make more sense.

Last year I had an exhibition of red paintings entitled ‘Seeing Red’. Red is still a predominant colour in recent work and the theme of the circle continues to recur in phases. I have moved up in scale and am enjoying the freedom this gives to be more energetic in my approach to painting.

Sometimes you just have to snatch time to be creative. My diary looks a bit scary but for me continuity is all important to make connections between different pieces of work. There is no substitute for time in the studio, putting in the hours so that themes are given a chance to emerge. I’m enjoying ‘paint’ and plan to move from acrylic to oils on what is quite an intimate scale for the moment.