This painting was inspired by my Christmas cruise of 2019 to Scandinavia. On the quay at Oslo harbour were floating saunas and I could see the back of a couple who were having a great time.
The saunas were advertised on this rack of canoes. When I got home I found out the company was started by a young man who needed a bath! Having been out sailing he was surprised that on arriving in Oslo( a bit mucky) there were no saunas so he decided to provide his own for travelers and revelers.
My couple are having an especially good time having discarded their bathing suits and polished off a bottle of wine.
In the background you will see the Oslo skyline- completely ficticious except for the opera house on the right and the triangular sculpture.
Floating Saunas in Oslo, outline drawing
The sea and an additional Floating Sauna starts to appear.In the summer, they float them out into the harbour and people jump off.
In the harbour
The canoes are added and the crackled quay.After this photograph, I got so involved in the painting I forgot to take more pictures. I can tell you I spent a good deal of time decoration the sauna, finding the loving couple and throwing paint at the skyline.
Finished picture
If you have enjoyed Floating Saunas in Oslo you can see more in the July issue of Surrey Life and visit my exhibition at Denbies Wine Estate from July 19th 2022. Prints are available from £22.
Showing this weekend at the Contemporary Art Fair Surrey at Sandown Park. “It’s a Small World” started life as an experiment with gold iridescent paints and heavy gloss mediums. Layers and washes of gold have been applied over the surface. Which has been enhanced with bronze,silver and cadmium red. Look closely, you will see textures and something else…..
I have been delving into surrealism. Following a dream about goats going up the mountainside. I decided the goats deserved their own world. Welcome to pineapple goat world. The pineapple landscape has been created from paper collage which is a painted map of Reigate.
You can see the map more clearly in the leaves of the pineapple. The collage has been applied and then outlined with gold tube lining. The small goats are Toggenberg goats.
“It’s a Small World” is 28x33cm and framed.
If you are curious about the Little Gems Collection- I would love to meet you and answer your questions. I am exhibiting at The Contemporary Art Fair Surrey 2022 this weekend. 4th- 6th March 2022 at Sandown Park, Esher, Surrey
You can book tickets here SANDOWN CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR 2022. Use code SS-COMP for free tickets on Saturday and Sunday or code PV-COMP for the private view this evening. (Friday 4th March)
1)How did you start painting? I did O level art at school. I was keen, so I would have other projects such as painting and pottery which I did at a local youth club and the art room at school. While I was working, I would paint a couple of abstract paintings a year. I love colour so these were unsophisticated efforts which were just an excuse to fling paint at the canvas. When I retired, I went to an experimental art class at a local college. This started me off experimenting and developing my skills. I started a painting group at my house for a few friends who encouraged me to start exhibiting.
2) How did you manage to get your first exhibition? I went to Denbies and got to know a fantastic lady called Sue Sheen who said that I could exhibit with her group- First for Art for a small fee. This was in 2018 and I have been exhibiting with her ever since then.
3) Who buys your work? I have sold work at Denbies to people from around Surrey and London, to tourists from Australia, America, and Poland. My work Is eye-catching – it’s bright and tactile. This is because I use acrylic, gold leaf, glass, collage and mixed media.
4) Where do you paint? I started in painting in what used to be my office in my house. I have an antique desk and carpet on the floor- so I had to be careful as acrylic is messy! The antique desk was covered with a plastic tablecloth, and I invested in a daylight bulb lamp. The carpet is now embellished with purple acrylic ink. When I tripped over the lamp and nearly brained myself, I thought it was time to get a studio. Luckily, my husband was quite encouraging, so I decided to build a log cabin at the bottom of the garden and join Open Studios.
What is Open Studios? Surrey ArtistsOpen Studios is organised by the Surrey Artists Open Studios program. It runs in June, and October. Local artists pay a membership fee to join and open their studios to the public. The program markets the artists studios through leaflets and their website. Members of the public can visit the artists studios and see their processes, materials and buy finished works.
5) When is your studio open, and what will people see? I am opening for 5 days in October at weekends: 2nd,3rd,10th,17th,24th October 11-5pm. There is no need to book you can just turn up. I am in Tattenham Crescent so very local.
My work is semi-abstract inspired by the natural world and my travels. No travelling this year so I have travelled in my imagination: my latest collection features a series of abstract landscapes. I have also looked for inspiration in the garden and nature.
At my studio you will see paintings, jewellery & prints created from: collage, acrylic, mediums, glass, gold leaf, watercolour and polymer clay. Original unique artworks are from £20- £800. Plus, prints, jewellery and gifts from £6.
If you missed Open Studios, please come see Rue’s exhibition at Denbies Winery, Dorking RH5 6AA. It’s free entry, free parking, no need to book. Open 10am-5pm till Sunday 27th June.
Last chance to buy from the new collection this summer.
Buy prints,mouse mats and handmade jewellery
Rue is exhibiting with First for Art, open till 4.30pm on Sunday 27th June 2021. Denbies wine estate, London Road, Dorking RH5 6AA. Free entry & parking, cafe and refreshments on site. Open to all. Hope to see you there.
I need a new studio… my studio is so small I nearly brained myself with a lamp!
We started in February 21
At the moment it looks like this….
I hope it’s going to look like this, only bigger and with more windows!
What might you see at the studio? Click video for a taster
Antonio Bolivar, actor, tribesman & storyteller
I am opening my new studio with the Surrey Open Studios program from 6th- 19th June.
Opening dates: 6th,7th,11th,12th,18th,19th June 2021.
Visitor numbers are still limited (due to Govt guidelines) – please email,call or text to book your visit. Text/call: 07799 626596. Email: ruestanleyart@gmail.com. I will be delighted to see you.
Parking is available along Tattenham Crescent, or in the car park at the Tattenhams Beefeater. Coffee, lunch, dinner and toilets are also available at the Beefeater which has wonderful views across the downs.
I had two luxury holidays booked for this year. Although neither were for really exotic destinations, I was really looking forward to them both as an escape from the day to day activity. Now the day to day activities of going out with friends or to an art gallery feel like luxuries. I have managed to do them occasionally, but not as much as I would like.
So, I decided to escape– I was inspired by the story of Antonio Bolivar Salvador from Brazil. Sadly I only knew his story through his obituary in the Economist Magazine.
Antonio Bolivar Salvador Obituary “when he spoke of the Jaguar, lord of the forest, the embodiment of power strength and violence, he would begin to growl deep in his throat. Antonio’s head would move around warily as if he were on the prowl himself. When he mentioned Anaconda the great snake god his hands would slither, swim and twine round each other, getting faster, until still smiling-he might leap from his chair and fling his snake arms around whoever was listening to him.” Extract: The Economist May 30th 2020
Jaguar Lord of the Forest, Black & Gold
Tribute to Antonio Bolivar Salvador
As a child, I was fascinated by the people of remote places such as Borneo and spent hours in the library reading about them and seeing their pictures. I found a book on Maori myths and legends which was beautifully illustrated and showed people with very defined features and sculptural tattoos. Antonio Bolivar Salvador’s face reminds me of my childhood.
So,I escaped to Brazil in my imagination. I have embellished my paintings with stories of Anaconda and Jaguar Lord of Forest. I researched the butterflies and the birds and included them too.
You too can escape to the place of your choice- the libraries are open, so are the art galleries ( till Thursday midnight 5th November)
And, you won’t have to isolate when you get back….
postscript: Looks like we will all have to escape this month via the internet and our imagination, till December…..
