I began painting at secondary school. I decided to study GCSE art and design as suggested by my mother (another creativity lover). My GCSE teacher was fairly traditional when it came to painting rules and techniques which she would be keen steer you towards.
I completed my GCSE while conforming to my teachers guidelines however I was aware at this stage that the traditional style drawing and painting which I was being taught was not my forte. I completed my GCSE and decided to continue to study art and design at A Level; my A Level teachers were very inspirational and encouraging of new techniques (which I loved!). I started to explore more experimental techniques by painting on atypical surfaces such as logs, clothing and glass. I devoted all of my time to my painting and photography as my A Level was focused heavily on ‘memorabilia’, ‘expressionism’ and ‘emotions’. The majority of my studies were concentrated on my family dog Boris whom had recently passed away; evidently fitting with the themes which I was studying. I created installations which were mainly based on using materials relating to the subject matter; I would paint a younger version of myself directly onto my own baby clothes which I would have worn at the time the painting is based. I would also paint onto cushions and other items which were directly associated with Boris. By studying Boris, artwork became a coping mechanism for me to deal with the loss of the family pet.
above: photograph taken when displaying some of my A Level work (featuring washing line installation)
4 years since leaving education and I am still painting! The subject matter which I focus on has not drifted far from my A level studies however there is more emphasis on the human form and figurative work. I have recently been working with watercolours and acrylics which will be posted within the gallery. My plans for the future work include experimenting on larger scales with unfamiliar materials such as oil paint and charcoal to continue progressing and learning new skills.
So this is how I started; there will be more to follow in relation to how I am progressing with my future plans and new material experiments. Wish me luck!
For now, Charlotte
