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Storing Up Studies

05th Nov 2011 | Subscribe via RSS

What with summer holidays, portrait commissions and now half-term it has been difficult in the last few months to find time to work on the still lifes. What I have been doing however is storing up ideas and making studies.

I find doing studies is invaluable for experimenting with colour and fine-tuning the composition. Here are a couple as examples.

The painting for “Everyone Likes Party Rings” has been completed and sold. Between the study and the finished painting the background transmuted to a soft green, and I can see the same will happen with “Bowl of Cherries”, though that painting hasn’t been begun yet. Studies live  on the studio wall or propped up on the bookcase so that they catch my eye when passing, and prompt thoughts or decisions.

4 Responses

emily broomfield
22nd Nov 2011

hi my names emily, i am inspired by your art work, i am doing my course work to do with my year 10 gcse work. i would like to base my final piece on your style of work, i was wondering if you would answer a question for me? the question in my paper was if i could ask the artist any question what would it be: my question: have you ever thought or tried to change your style of artwork, if yes/no why did you do this. thank you for your time and i look forward to hearing from you soon it will be a great help. emily

Diane McLellan
25th Nov 2011

The answer is neither yes or no, but that a style of work generally develops over the years. It can be influenced by many things, such as other artists whose work you admire, or materials you like using, or technology that enables you to use certain techniques. There is a thread through my work from school, to university, working in television and then back to painting which can be identified even though my art and use of materials has changed from time to time. I have played with other styles, and then either incorporated them or dropped them. An artist’s work is never static, but constantly evolving. If you look on my website or my page on newbloodart.com you will see portraits in pencil, lino prints, watercolour sketches, line drawings, and that is all part of the process.

When I was at school & university we experimented with other styles as part of the courses. My favourites were Pointillism and Pop Art, and traces of them can be seen in my current work still.

I hope that answers your question in some part. Good luck with year 10, I hope you’re finding it fun.

Kelly Newman
25th Nov 2011

Helloo, My name is Kelly and I’m also studying you for my Year 10 GCSE art project. I also would like to ask you a few questions about your art work. I would like to know: What inspired you to do the piece ‘Be Mine Forever’? And also: Where did you make ‘Be Mine Forever’? because i can not find any information about it.
Thank you for your time and for helping me with my Art Project :)

Diane McLellan
27th Nov 2011

Hi Kelly,
‘Be Mine Forever’ came about by chance. I paint whatever comes out of a Love Heart packet as I like the element of luck/surprise/fate – whatever you want to call it. Putting the two together subtly alters the message on each. I like to paint Love Hearts because they are such a small, simple yet iconic way to send a message.
I’m not sure what you mean by asking where I made it……it is an acrylic on canvas painting that I painted in my studio in London. It has been sold to a private buyer, perhaps that is why there you can’t find any more about it.

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