isendyouthis.com

Introduction

Statement

Although I have  worked for many years as an illustrator, my first love has always been painting and I hope that the passion I have  pursued is evident in my artistic endeavours as a painter first and foremost.  

Most of my student years were spent at Edinburgh College of Art where traditional methods of working were employed and encouraged.  Good composition and a strong belief in the importance of accurate drawing to underpin any work, feature strongly in my own work. This is due in part to the influence of my tutors who themselves practiced traditional drawing and painting techniques.  My use of strong colour, particularly in the Still Life paintings is partly due to the on-going influence of the Scottish Colourists at Edinburgh College of Art.  Working under tutors such as Elizabeth Blackadder and John Houston, I think these influences have become particularly evident in my still life paintings. Recently I have produced some large-scale still life oil paintings which reflect these specific interests. Initially viewed as carefully choreographed pieces, I hope they also express an immediate emotional, celebratory response with all the tensions and relationships between the separate elements.

Many expressionist artists have also had an impact on my work, both in the technical application of the paint and also in their ambition to imbue their paintings with a highly emotional response to the subject. 

All my work is underpinned by a solid grounding in drawing skills which I learned early on, having been taught traditional methods in the anatomy and life classes at Edinburgh.  I believe very strongly in the necessity of acquiring good observation skills and the ability to translate this into producing artwork which has integrity and longevity.   

Nicola Kelsall    

Biography