sue douglas

Since Covid lockdown I have been painting in oils, every day. This is the first time I have ever been able to do this. I did take an art degree a few decades ago but continued doing my job (as Psychotherapist) at the same time throughout the course;  Inevitably  this meant I didn’t get the most out of the experience but enjoyed having to work to deadlines which I found made me more creative and adventurous.  I developed my work in Art photography taking pictures of the natural world close up or from unexpected angles or just in response to the joy of colours and textures I saw but with a continuing theme of water and reflections.  I would say overall the degree course did develop my eye and appreciation of composition.

In spring this year, being virtually retired I began with large pots of paint and large brushes doing impulsive abstract work, enjoying a completely new experience of immersion in colours and marks until they spoke to me and then trying to respond in such a way as not to control but to enhance the original spontaneity.

Having enjoyed the effects of doing this for a while I have since moved into more literal landscapes and worked at learning how to convey water and reflections and to create a sense of space. I find it hard to create the sort of singingly luminous colours I see in the natural world but notice with frustration that photos of my work, back-lit on camera/computer screen, usually look much better than the paintings themselves. So I guess that’s my next challenge. 
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Most recently I have painted a few more detailed fanciful, abstract pieces which I am enjoying but often find it really hard to judge whether they are in any way worthwhile.

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