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)
This year, I have been working on a new collection called Little Gems. Showing this week at the Surrey Contemporary Art Fair 2022 I wanted to experiment with new ideas and push my materials further. By making small pictures I have been able to explore more ideas and techniques.
Here is Spirit Faces inspired by a book on Inuit Masks and ceremonies I found in a local book store.
Look closely and you will see scratch marks, this is because this piece started out as an exploration of African Textiles.
Look again at the bottom and you will see textures, these were applied before the idea of Spirit Faces emerged. You will notice that the paint is slightly iridescent. The top textures have been sanded.
I am intrigued by people and cultures and as a kid spent hours in the library reading books on anthropology.
When it was finished, I decided to explore the idea further. Spirit Faces 2 started life on a small piece of oil paper. Using the Sgraffito method I etched in the faces. In this version all the textures are on top. Look closely and you will see glass, gold and iridescence. The paper has been collaged onto canvas board and heavy mediums add more textures onto the surface. The shine comes from the mediums and iridescent gold and copper paints.
If you are curious about the Little Gems Collection- I would love to meet you and answer your questions. I am exhibiting at The Surrey Contemporary Art Fair 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 on Friday evening
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.
