From me to you...

My marks.   

They are just there, with 

no requirement to understand them.  

I believe there is also no requirement 

to explain them...

and some are almost impossible to explain.

Why am I telling you this?

This is not a deliberate plan to confuse you.  

It’s just the way I am,

and the way I want to work.

 

I like to be free to make my art.

Free to change my plan or process.

Even thinking too much about my 

painting process can be stifling. 

  The word ‘process’ gives an impression that there 

is a certain order or procedure to be followed.  

 A regular procedure could feel restrictive 

and might limit my freedom. 

   It may also prevent my work from

 growing or developing.

The word ’intuitive’ might best 

describe my mark making.

A picture paints a thousand words...

  

When I stand in front of this painting,

my immediate response is simply 

to wrap it around me.  

I do not wish to translate the scribbles,

 or understand the scratches.  

 The painting just ‘is’.

‘Red with scribbles’.

Oils and cold wax medium on 36 x 24 inch board.   

Made in my studio on top of a previous picture. 

A thousand words, and a gift from me to you.

Until next time...

Thank you for visiting.

Click on the image for my website 

www.wildartdesigns.com

Persistence and paint.

When the going gets tough, 

the tough get going.

‘Weather the storm’

Oils and cold wax medium 

on 30 x 30 inch canvas.

This painting was in tatters last night

after hours of struggle and scraping down.

It was a rework over a red painting from last year  

and I began to doubt my decision to change it.

The work was going downhill very quickly.

Today, after a relaxing coffee morning with 

a friend, I was in the mood to try once more.

This time my progress was so different.

I focused on colour and tonal changes,

working quickly to make a loose seascape.

I am pleased with the result.

It’s a ‘keeper’...for now.

Moving on...

After the experience with ‘Weather the Storm’

I was eager to resume work on another piece

which was giving me a hard time. 

This picture had been reworked recently

from one I painted several years ago.

Although I was happy with the change,

the dark blue ‘squiggle’ mark on the right

had invited a comment from someone 

who asked what it ‘meant’. 

I said the title is ‘Fair and Square’

as I couldn’t think of another useful answer.

Suddenly my painting screamed ‘change me’.

I could never see this picture again in the same way. 

Well...that is the end of it.

That picture has gone.

I painted over it many times.

Colours were changed

but nothing was working.

I went to bed leaving a large image 

of pea green soup to dry on the wall.

Now there are signs of life.

I began the rescue with a dark mix of

Cobalt blue deep and Burnt Sienna

with blue/green oils from the ‘Storm’ painting.

Traces of the previous image have been left 

to show through the darkened appearance.

The raised texture and scratches add interest.

It’s drying on the wall.

I have titled it...

‘Darkened Land’.

Oils and cold wax medium on 

30 x 40 inch box canvas.

I shall resist any attempts to lighten the painting.

The dark, gloomy atmosphere is now the focus.

Persistence eventually won the day.

Until next time...

Thank you for visiting.

My website tells more of my story.

Wildartdesigns

More playtime.

Time to relax awhile...

Playtime.

Little studies of fun.

Oils and cold wax medium on 8 x 10 inch board.

As a break from other jobs

I made some loose, intuitive studies today.

Sometimes these casual paintings 

turn out to be favourites

and I rather like that one.  

Re-working paintings can also bring surprises.

This small 16 x 16 inch canvas was mainly red

and orange before I added the blue/green.

When I turned it round, this aspect looked right...

there is a suggestion of an abstracted landscape.

‘Of wild places’

Oils and cold wax medium on canvas.

Work in progress.

Some paintings at the 

‘not sure where they are going’ stage.

To be continued.

More work in progress...

My studio is undergoing some changes.

Nothing too radical, just a re-positioning of 

tables and space to work on larger pieces.

I now have a little kitchen and dining area 

at one end for relaxing with a cuppa.

The biggest change is my Posh Privy...or Dunny,

or just plain ‘outside loo’ behind my workshop.

This project began last summer with

the delivery of a new shed and two eco

waterless toilets which are now fitted.

There are still some things to finish 

but it’s coming together now.

Finally...

The one that got away.

Until next time...

Thank you for visiting.

Click on the link for my website 

www.wildartdesigns.com

The right track.

Being sidetracked...

I didn’t plan to paint today...

there were other jobs to be done.

This was a sidetracked moment

which continued for three hours.

I admit it did not go well.

Two canvases went in the bin and 

two more have been put aside.

Determined I wouldn’t be beaten 

I persevered and these two 

paintings began to take shape.

They are drying on the wall.

To convince myself they have 

a future I gave them titles...

‘Stay and rest awhile’

Oils and cold wax medium 

on 20 x 20 inch canvas 

‘The tide is full tonight’

Oils and cold wax medium on 

20 x 20 inch canvas 

“Find out what you want to do by doing it”

(Words by artist Robert Dash)

Doing is the key...

Perhaps my time wasn’t wasted.

I shall find out in the morning 

when I open the studio door.

That’s all for now...

Until next time 

Thank you for visiting.

 

www.wildartdesigns.com

Start as you mean to go on.

Welcome to my 2020 Studio.

I am happy that I’ve had the chance

 to be a painter....

making things the world 

doesn’t necessarily ask for.

A detail from my first 2020 painting 

My new year art resolution 

is to continue making things 

the world doesn’t ask for.  

I can please myself.

Today I re-visited a painting from my home 

using the existing colours as a base to 

apply some random marks and scribbles.

I shall leave it to dry before deciding it’s future.

‘Fair and Square’

Oils and cold wax medium on 36 x 40 inch canvas 

I shall return...

Until next time.

Thank you for visiting.

Unfolding forces.

As the year ends...

I read this yesterday...

“How does one predict the future 

of the unfolding force of one’s life?”

Thoughts from Sara Genn, 2019

painterskeys.com  

Sara says...”My Quest only reveals herself 

to me when I pick up my brush. 

So I won’t ask you about your 

plans for your work in 2020. 

Instead, I’ll invite you to ponder with me some ideas 

for creative development, with a preference 

for behavioural tweaking.

Sara goes on to suggest...

Experiment more.

 Try adding or omitting one stage 

in your existing process.

Change your ground colour for two months.

Cut your palette in half.

Leave paintings 10% unfinished as a gift 

to yourself for the following day, 

with the idea that you’ll decide 

if it’s actually already finished, tomorrow.

Stronger design.

One neat area.

Two mysterious areas.

Three material areas — 

surface quality, edgemanship and brushwork, 

because you are making a painting.

There were some more suggestions but I 

felt these could be useful for me to try 

as I begin a new year of creating my art.  

Before I get too carried away with resolutions,

 a quotation by Marc Chagall

reminds me to stay close to my heart...

Until next year...

Thank you for visiting 

and good wishes for a

painterly 2020.

Read more of my story here...

Wildartdesigns.com

Wild at Heart Studio.

Open Studio in 2020

Wild at Heart Studio 

Green Acres,

Broxholme,

Nr Lincoln 

LN1 2NG

Here is my studio and workshop

in a Lincolnshire wild garden.

This is where I make my oil paintings.

A few years ago I opened my studio 

each year for ‘Art on the Map’,

Lincolnshire Open Studios.

I have decided to open again for 

a few days in 2020 after several 

people asked if they could visit.

The little summer house will have my

 collection of small oil paintings

and cards on Arches oil paper.

Small framed oil paintings 

Oil painting cards and bookmarks 

In my workshop visitors can see work 

in progress and larger finished oil paintings.

Work tables and painting equipment 

Little oil studies drying 

Work in progress 

Some finished pictures in the Studio...

Studio opening times...

The first Sunday of the month 

 May to September 

Open 11am until 3pm

I look forward to seeing you...

2020 Oils and cold wax painting workshops

1st Thursday & 1st Saturday 

from May to October

Bookings by arrangement - 

Email:   annewoodpaintings@gmail.com

Visit my website for more details...

Click on the picture