 The worldwide threat of Covid-19 has affected us in ways we could never have imagined. As an artist, I found myself unable to visit the coast and paint the seascapes, flowers and birds that I am normally drawn to.
Initially, the changes took place at such an alarming rate that I could not paint at all. I found myself limited to a small corner of rural Berkshire, which I walked and re-walked. It is an area criss-crossed by major roads that fell quiet during the lockdown. Morning or evening walks revealed the most dramatic skies, emulating the turbulence in the world. When I started painting again, what emerged from my studio was not the bright and light, but strong, dark and full of meaning. Small studies, loaded with saturated colour and deep tone, told the story of our turbulent feelings. This change in mood was instinctive, not planned or thought through, but a reaction. Each painting tells of the sense of drama of the time. Whether directly, or by suggestion, each painting reflects the intensity of our situation, while glimpses of light, give hope. This body of work reflects this period of time, while offering a piece of countryside escapism to lift the spirit. I have created an E book of the small paintings created during the Covid lockdown of 2020. To view the book, please click here: Turbulence E book |