Working solely from nature there’s times when a model cancels or the weather’s too inclement to venture outside, at these moments I like to delve into my imaginations and just try to have fun in the act of picture making without any references.
Many segments of time over the years I’ve found myself in bars and cafes doodling in sketch books, designs for pictures that could never exist if one was working solely from life. Impossible angles and hues.
If I’m waiting for someone out, I usually ask for a bit blank of paper and pencil from the cafe or bars’ staff, I start to draw and see what tumbles out on my mind.
When I was younger, sketching from my imagination was a big part of my life though going through art school I found that I did this less and less, as I was so focused on learning how to capture what I saw.
A lot of what follows are small sketches though there’s a couple bigger more realised pictures.
Evening Thoughts
I’d imagine that this picture comes from many walks, I find it helpful to milk ideas in this way. These strolls would generally take place in the early evenings when the light was fading. As I have penchant for over-coats…the figure comes quite naturally.
Be Happy
A picture that’s included in the last post (Miscellaneous 3), I was looking a lot of George Inness…an artist who’s been a big influence on me for a couple of years now – I discuss his work. https://www.kitfrenchartist.com/thoughts-on-painting-mist-fog-and-atmospheric-effects/
The Conversation
Imagined beach seen, city in the distance. People meeting for an unknown reason.
Viewer
Another from my idea walks, a figure pondering existence.
Gathering
Just experimenting placing figures, and trying to make them work together. This picture has something of a ceremonial feeling. I may make a bigger version of this in the coming weeks.
Introspection
Quick sketch of a figure looking down, and pose that I find that I hold rather often.
The Launch
Quick sketch, half what I saw half what occurred to me backing in the studio.
Awaiting the Light
Though not done solely from my head, more of picture that went that way. View from one of the local beaches here in Kinsale. Glowing clouds sparked an Idea.
These pictures obviously aren’t naturalistic though they are inspired by nature, as everything is. I found painting them rather soothing as I tend to over think things, with these there was a freedom that I could exude rather like a comedian riffing or and actor improvising. The colour selection is rather simple, trying to express the ideas with less.
“The world of reality has its limits; the world of imagination is boundless”
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
