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Many different collections of silver and gold jewellery, some with pearls and silver lace.
Angela Lawrence
I have lived in Galloway since 2004 and have enjoyed painting it’s seascapes and landscapes ever since, both its well-known or more secret viewpoints. I paint in oils and occasionally watercolour. Expansive, recognizable views of places I love to walk – notably in the Fleet Bay and along the Solway, but also coastal areas much further west and the Galloway Hills. I also like to bring attention to more humble features along less trodden paths, catching an interesting play of light, shadows or colours. The latter are mostly executed on small, sometimes tiny, canvases. Other subjects that attract me are dramatic high fells in the Lake District and the Highlands and the jewel-like colours of the Outer Hebrides. Mostly I paint actual scenes, but some are in fact imaginary though aiming to feel familiar. I’m fascinated by different effects of light so you will also see a variety of atmospheric seascapes at my studio and gallery – fiery or gently glowing sunsets, reflections on darkly mysterious calm waters, and moonlit scenes. Rather than being about location, these are conjured up from ephemeral moments that linger in the memory. They follow on from recent and earlier themes of windswept hills or imagined turbulent sea, disappearing into dark distance.
Behind the Scenes
Click image to enlarge
About My Practice
I am at my happiest outdoors, and it often inspires me to record my impressions-from sunny coastal walks to atmospheric or dramatic viewpoints. The wish to share also motivates me, along with an urge to capture it all. Mostly my oil paintings are representational, with close attention to light and colour, involving choices as to what to leave out while enhancing key aspects. I love seeing the painting take shape: the initial sketches on location or in the studio, then loosely marking out the composition on what could be a very large canvas with a few scant and quick brush strokes for the position of the horizon and the main shapes. Next, going in with careful colour choices, mostly working from top down, sky and its light influencing the scene. I work alla prima”; firstly, with large brushes, returning with smaller brushes and palette knife for carefully chosen or invented detail. Soft brushes are useful for blending or losing some edges for atmospheric effect.
With location-specific work, it is often a positive thing for it to be recognisable – I think it’s satisfying for many onlookers to be able to recognise the view and I enjoy the technical challenge. I aim to awaken in the onlooker a sense of being there but I also wish provoke a sense of recognition of a more elusive kind too, especially in my imaginary atmospheric scenes which have been an increasing focus.
Running my gallery since 2007 in Castle Douglas, is akin to having a sort of solo show which changes gradually as paintings come and go. It isn’t only the paintings which change, but also new subjects and new themes appear, and some stylistic aspects that I deliberately alter or that just evolve – which keeps things fresh and stimulating. Sketching and photography are helpful tools for my work, but I find observation, memory and imagination are also essential for progress. For Spring Fling Open Studios event, I produce and rehang the gallery with a huge body of new work. Alongside my own space, it’s important to me to continue to take part in exhibitions at other venues, and I have been lucky enough to be selected for many good shows over the years, most recently with my imagined nocturnal sea paintings at Dalkeith Palace with Visual Art Scotland and the exciting VAS Biennial at the Royal Sottish Academy. I was very happy to become an elected professional member of Visual art Scotland last year.
Tools & Materials
I start work outdoors, observing, sketching and or taking photos. I usually paint in my studio which is on the main street of castle Douglas and is part of my gallery (Clience Studio). My studio is well lit for painting and I have my easel and painting table next to large windows overlooking the street: I quite like having activity outside, seeing the passers by. I have my PC set up at the desk nearby for initial reference to images or video I have taken. Sometimes I work at home, especially on commissions. There I have a daylight lamp which keeps thing bright and natural. I work with highly pigmented artist quality oils, and occasionally watercolours, similarly professional quality, as lightfastness and longevity as well as rich depth and brilliance of the colours is important and a joy to work with. I use a citrus based oil thinner and also a citrus based medium as these are less toxic and smell pleasantly orangey. I use a variety of bristle or softer brushes in a widely different size and shapes according to what I’m painting.
Examples of work
Click image to enlarge
Spring Fling Activity
Painting progress slide shows.
Occasional demonstrations (various times)
A competition: suggest the most apt title for my mystery painting to win a signed print from a
Offer for Spring Fling Friends
Mounted prints 10% off
Browse other studios
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Creating unique wooden forms decorated with freehand pyrography, inspired by nature and intricate drawing.