Stories told by Trees Painting

I have been a professional artist for over twenty years and recently became a Drawing and Painting techniques tutor in adult education. ARTISTS STATEMENT Constantly learning, observing & absorbing; drawing energy from my particular surroundings to evoke a sense of place and contemplation is my aim. Initially I draw in sketchbooks wherever I may be; beach, land or woodland, visually and literally note taking. Plus although I do not work directly from photographs, the camera and digital manipulations of an image are becoming an increasingly more important aspect of my work. It enables me to study the minutiae of nature and the usually unobserved; the structure of a seed head, the line and texture within a rock or pebble; looking deeper and deeper into the surface to discover the abstract. Primarily I choose collage and experimental printmaking to interpret my thoughts and drawings. It enables me to use a variety of media including recycled and handmade papers, water based inks and paints and found objects Words are a vital part of the work though they are often hidden deep into the piece asking the viewer to look for them & the hidden meaning of what can initially appear to be a very quiet work. Inside it is shouting ‘really look at me I have so many stories to tell.’ It is a given that artists draw on nature; how can we not? As humans we are nature, it is all around us, it feeds us physically, spiritually & emotionally. This then begs the question, why are we, as humans, increasingly taking it for granted, ignoring it's vitality, destroying it & the climate with the overuse of man made materials, fossil fuels & unsustainable living. Finding ways to express this are of growing importance to me as time moves on. I intend that my work becomes an extension to my voice. However quiet they both may be in this world of sensory pollution. Julie Reid fine artist July 2022