Wake up, wake up Print

This work was inspired by Springtime walks in morning mist when insects begin stirring and the first flowers of the year begin to bloom. This is part of a series of works inspired by Beacon Hill and Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire, UK. Some of the series is totally abstract while others are closer to recognisable landscapes. I want to express the feel and mood of the place rather than depict a specific location. My work is more about my internal thoughts than the external view. The landscape is only a starting point for the work. I hope the finished paintings have universal appeal rather than only being of interest to a person who knows the particular area. This painting began as an experiment with cold wax mixed into the oil paint. Once the wax had dried I then laid many thin glazes of oils over the surface to create a translucent effect in contrast with the thick impasto areas. My main references are JMW Turner, Monet and contemporary artists Chu Te Chun, Zao Wou-Ki, Darren Waterston, Lissa Bockwrath, Chris Rivers, Ella Baudinet and Cruz Jimenez. I hope the viewer can feel a sense of nature ‘waking up’ as the mist gradually clears and the viewer’s eyes adjust and find tiny details. The painting is framed with a white frame. Size including frame is 49cm x 41cm x 4cm