We are running a series of blogs featuring our fab artists who are currently exhibiting in RELATIONAL WARMTH at the gallery.

I would be delighted to introduce more of the artists taking part in the show and let them convey how they have interpreted the theme and how it may have influenced their submissions.

We have a delightful ‘bakers dozen’ of exhibitors, so a diverse selection of mediums, styles and artists together, with the flow of warmth running throughout.

Heres a short interview from the artists - there are more episodes showcasing each artist and get to know more about their art - so do check back on the previous posts to meet everyone - Enjoy x

Josie Clouting - Landscape artist

• What are your thoughts on incorporating Warmth into your work?
  ‘Sunset at Poldhu’ celebrates the fleeting warmth of a winter sunset. I love the rugged and dramatic landscape of Cornwall in the Winter, and I hope the saturated colours evoke the feeling of being immersed in the pink light. 

• What immediately comes to mind when you think of "Warmth"?
  Light and the golden hour or ‘magic’ hour. 

• Have you found yourself drawn to Warmth in paintings before?
  Yes, probably most prominently in colour field painters such as Rothko. I think the vast scale of his paintings in combination with the application of light and dark tone makes his paintings, especially the warm colours, sing. Another artist that I think links to theme, although not a painter, is James Turrell. Both his interior installations, and the natural ‘sky scapes’ seem to explore the possibilities of light and warmth.

• And finally, how has the preparation for this Exhibition challenged your practice as an artist?

  I tend to visit a lot of cold places so it has been a challenge to find a suitable location and time of day that represents warmth. Having said that, I have had this small painting composition in mind for a long time so this gave me a push to give it a try and I loved using all those pinks!

Emma Peel - Contemporary Mixed media artist

•          What are your thoughts on incorporating Warmth into your work?
Warmth is a feeling. It positivity in a negative environment

•          What immediately comes to mind when you think of "Warmth"?
Warmth is about finding that metaphoric light in the dark

•          Have you found yourself drawn to Warmth in paintings before?
I am attracted to warmth, but not necessarily in colour always.

•          And finally, how has the preparation for this Exhibition challenged your practice as an artist?
Producing work, through ideas has not been an issue. My mind overflows, constantly. My only challenge is to multitask to a new level, whilst also opening my own Gallery space at the same time.

Jo Willis - Oil Painter

• What are your thoughts on incorporating Warmth into your work?

I immediately think of colour when incorporating warmth into my work.  I particularly love working with rich browns, reds and pinks. Burnt sienna in the coat of a hereford cow or the rich cadmium oranges and reds seen in an English sunrise or sunset.

• What immediately comes to mind when you think of "Warmth"?

Two things spring to mind - the warmth of relationships with family and friends and being warm - a real fire, hot chocolate and a blanket!  Also, if I’m not warm I find it very hard to paint!  Warmth also means light as well as colour to me - the two are intertwined.

• Have you found yourself drawn to Warmth in paintings before?

Yes very much so - look at the impressionists who were so good at conveying warmth and light in their work - think of Monet's haystacks at sunrise or Pissaro’s ‘Approach to the village’. David Hockney works in rich colours in his paintings and iPad drawings of the Yorkshire countryside - beautiful.

• And finally, how has this Exhibition challenged your practice as an artist?

It was an interesting challenge as I had not consciously thought about conveying warmth in my work before. As I thought about it in terms of colour and light I chose Big Sky, a luminous Norfolk sunset, as I felt it conveyed both.

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