Came across this watercolour/drawing when looking through works that I have at home in Sweden. Although it is part of a large group of ‘fur’-like drawings I like it because its landscape qualities, combined with hints of human/animal bodies, sets it apart from other works. The pools of ‘water’, I think, are quite delicate and seeps into the fur which is undulating, maybe following an underlying mountain range.
Flow has been selected to the Open Exhibition at the Ferens Art Gallery at Hull and will be shown from Saturday 15 February to Sunday 26 April 2020.
Technique similar to Dance On that was exhibited in Edinburgh but with watercolour instead of block printing colour as the starting point.
What it says on the tin! Inspired by a photo taken in the archipelago on the east coast of Sweden, and trying not to think of Turner’s mastery, this what the end finished product looks like. The colours seem un-naturally bright but are actually somewhat toned down. I think I most like what I did with the sea, it sort of balances the activity going on above.
Oil on canvas.
So moving on from Wave, which was painted on a loose piece of canvas, this smaller work is on a stretched frame. Working by manipulating very runny acrylic paint and letting it dry between the application of different hues, I placed the stretcher on the floor by a window and, with the sun shining through, noticed that the mullions cast a lovely shadow which added depth to the painting. I quickly grabbed a brush and thinned Payne’s Grey and captured the shadow. Several layers later this is the end result.
Anette Wahlgren 