Flower Still Life

Art: my constant companion! Continuous travelling has made stability hard in my life but art has remained a constant throughout. In unfamiliar surroundings, my painting has always been a means by which I expressed my feelings. Growing up in a myriad of countries and being immersed in vastly diverse cultures has given me a depth and insight; my main inspiration for painting. From the city hub of Hong Kong to the rural pastures of England, to the bleakness of the United Arab Emirates and the simplicity of life in Sweden to the bohemian bustle of life in Italy and finally onto Lancaster, I am experiencing new approaches to life that shape and deepen my artwork. There has never been a time when I considered doing anything but art; it is an integral part of who I am.

Two years ago, I created artwork in solitude and in many ways it was rewarding to be given complete freedom to paint as I wished, though my limitations as an artist soon became apparent. I felt that I needed to go back to the basics, and learn how to draw properly in order for my work to develop as I wished.

In Sweden and Italy, I attended Ateliers that specialize in realist art. It was in these countries that I participated in the intensive drawing course established by Charles Bargue. The program forced me to look extremely closely at various relationships in a drawing and, through close observation, to become aware of lines, angles and shapes, learning how they relate to one another to create a whole. Initially working with pencil, I then moved onto charcoal as the bridging medium between pencil and oil painting. I attended life-drawing 4 times a week (a practice which I still try to maintain weekly), focusing on the gesture, structure and proportions. I believe that having done this drawing course, I now have the necessary skills in place to enable me to achieve what I want in art.