Autumn into winter - Art from the seasons
Autumnal vibes and oil paintings
Hello my flower loving friends,
How’s the half term going? I get out really early during holiday times to avoid the youth 😂 Honestly, they all charge with linked arms. Anyway, I’m in my favourite coffee shop feeling autumnal with a chai latte, the drive in was beautiful, leaves tumbling from the trees and the colours - wow 🍂 If you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know all my art (ceramics, paintings, flowers) is inspired by the seasons, so I thought I’d share with you some recent snaps mixed with some of my oil paintings.
I went to a garden Diwali last weekend which was utterly enchanting! I just managed to see the garden in the light to appreciate the design before night descend and we were immersed in a magical garden lit by hundreds of tiny lights. I’m finding little things to do that will keep me and my family uplifted as the nights draw in. This time of year is cosy but can feel quite long, I’ve learned how important it is to do small enjoyable and simple things - like having a quiet coffee out of the house.
Studio time is limited because of the light but I quite like being in there with the residual heat from the kiln and my fairy lights on. Instead of large canvases I choose to work on smaller pieces on paper- they dry quicker than the big oil paintings at this time of the year.
The painting shown above is called Freedom - It’s my north star word that runs through all my work and life. It’s turbulent in a good way I think, open and slightly chaotic like life. Oil on paper and painted using palette knives. It’s full of texture with warm tones of Autumn into winter. It reminds me of leaves blowing in a storm. Dramatic and beautiful.
A sneaky pic of my old studio set-up.
It’s the textures and tones of gardens and the landscape which I draw from, not literally, I don’t paint en plan air (in-situ), I soak up the emotions of a place and it all comes pouring out through art somewhere down the line, it’s all stored in my head. I think thats why I love photography so much, I can immortalise snippets of beauty in time, I see painting and ceramics as an extension of this.
This one is one of my favourites, it’s called Nostalgia. I’m a typical crab (cancer) and I’m deeply romantic about the past and what we can learn from it- how to appreciate the little joys along with the disasters that are out of our control, there is something calming when I look to the past and remember the moments of mixed emotions, the beautiful days and the crap that makes the next beautiful day feel extra amazing- I love that!
The Diwali festival has me sourcing more lights and I’m after some solar festoons for the greenhouse. The mr asked why when it would clearly be to dark to do any gardening - I simply replied - because the sight of it when we leave our studios for the evening would bring joy and that is a good enough reason!
Gather - A painting with a double meaning, to gather things that will bring comfort during the winter, food, natural decorations for the home, candles and such things that will bring warmth. And to walk and gain clarity on thoughts.
It’s soon to be looking bare as I’ve been digging up the annuals and the dahlias will soon follow. I’ll be setting up the greenhouse though to squirrel myself away and make wreaths for Christmas. We got lucky with this house in that the main garden is very private and full of interesting trees and animals. It’s a walk from the cottage as I live in a row of old estate cottages and the gardens are all disjointed but I love how ours opens onto the wood. It took years of wishing bloody hard, searching and being in the right place at the right time. Oh and flipping hard work! I do worry about how kids these days will be able to get on the property ladder. When my friends and I were in our early twenties it was relatively easy to buy your first house. The cost of living was, well, liveable. It’s no surprise kids are looking outside the box now with van life and barges.
Smoke And Heather was inspired by Dunwich Heath in Suffolk. Have you been? It’s wonderful to blow away the cobwebs and the heathland is so interesting and beautiful, full of textures.
On Top Of The Hill - A feeling when you’ve conquered something that felt big. And breathe. For me it literally is a walk up the hill near where I live. It’s something that burns my legs and gets my heart pounding but the view from the top is worth it.
All the paintings shown are my original oil paintings and are sold unframed making them more affordable to own original art. All are under £100. I’ll pop the link below if you fancy a look. Wishing you all a lovely weekend. I hope you get to bring a little bit of joy and comfort inside.
Emma x