About Me
I am a painter in oils and have always loved painting landscapes and seascapes. More recently I have also painted contemporary still life, particularly looking at colour and colour relationships.
My still-life paintings are a celebration of colour. I have used simple forms, vibrant colours and an altered perspective. For me, this combination lifts the work out of the ordinary. Unexpectedly there is an enigmatic sense of singularity within the work.
I have long been interested in the use of colour and its effect on mood and atmosphere. The desire to find a combination that unlocks a particular vision is the constant motivation for my work.
The Northern Girls' autumn exhibition is swiftly approaching, and I am working hard to have everything ready.
The show will be open at Clonterbrook Gallery from 10am-4pm on Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd November. We are looking forward to another exciting show with lots of new work and other items for sale, including cards, tea towels, cushions, and ceramics, just in time for Christmas shopping.
The Northern Girls are featured in the October issue of Cheshire Life, where there is more information about the group and our work.
Regular updates on events will appear on Instagram @zeldaartistcheshire and @northerngirls_art. For more information on Northern Girls Art see here.
Members of Northern Girls Art have recently been interviewed on their various art practices and I thought you might like to read some of my thoughts on this.
Q. How do you approach the creative process? Do you plan meticulously or embrace spontaneity?
A. I have a general idea before I start but the work develops in spontaneous directions as I paint. It becomes a compilation of ideas about colour, distorted perspective and form.
Q. What techniques or media do you use to create your artwork?
A. I always use oil paint and mostly paint on board as I like the resistance to the brush and the underlying surface.
Q. Are there any specific artists or art movements that have influenced your style?
A. I have been influenced by numerous artists over the years. For colour, probably Matisse and Van Gogh. For perspective distortion, Mary Fedden among many others.
Q. Can you explain the concept or message behind your work?
A. There isn’t really a message. Conceptually I’m trying to create something complex which looks deceptively simple.
Q. What emotions or reactions do you hope to evoke in viewers through your art?
A. I want the works to be joyous and positive in feeling, while also encouraging some curiosity about the painting and how it works.
Q. What inspired you to create Autumn Harvest?
A. I had collected fruit from my garden and I wanted to put together a complex compilation including these.
Q. How does your artwork reflect your personal experiences or worldview?
A. It reflects my view that in difficult sometimes dark periods of worldwide change and hardship we should look for joy in the things that surround us.
Q. Can you share any interesting or challenging moments you encountered while creating this piece?
A. This piece had many technical challenges including the positioning of the objects and the use of many different colours that had to harmonise as a whole. The introduction of a red can be particularly difficult.
Q. How do you know when a piece is finished? Do you ever feel tempted to keep making changes?
A. It takes me a long time to feel that a piece is finished and I do have to fight the tendency to keep changing things. I’m trying to train myself to walk away.
Q. Do you sell online?
A. I can be contacted through my website and I have sold works this way.
Q. Do you accept commissions?
A. It depends on the subject matter. I am interested in painting objects, fabrics etc that have a personal resonance for someone but they will be distorted and not an exact reproduction.
Regular updates and information can be found on my Instagram account: zeldaartistcheshire.
