Gaye’s Studio News

A twist of lime

24 May 2022

Inspired by a painting I glimpsed on line and now can’t find, I decided to try a very pale but high key palette with little tonal contrast. Maybe this choice was because the last two sets of work were very bold and gestural and I needed a calm interlude. Usually though, it is my curiosity and need for a challenge that spurs me on. I chose pthalo blue, a mid hued yellow and another of my favourite transparent colours, rose madder.

I had prepared a chart testing a range of yellows and blues to find the best lime green. Hundreds other green colours can mixed in this way and then by adding a touch of red, black or white the range can be multiplied. Magic.

Arrayed around my painting area were 8 prepared sheets of cartridge; 4 60cm ones and 4 at 40cm. Two large ones started with a wash of lime green acrylic, The other two I left white but used some wild gestural marks to form the basis of a composition. Here is one of each.

It was surprising to see how these developed.

Having avoided lime green in the past I was amazed to see how other colours looked with it. I have an oil stick called Sienna Yellow extra pale which has looked very yellow when used in the previous two sets of paintings. However, when used on the lime green surface it looked quite pink. There’s a lot of colour theory out there to explain this trick of perception if you are interested.

I have been layering mostly pale colours and trying to retain the soft warm feeling.

The first two with the lime green underpainting look much darker that those with the white. The the transparent colours allow the light through and to reflect back off the white surface.

Where will I go next? Will I finish these keeping with my original intention?

Three works featured in my last news are finished As usual I limited my palette of colours; a deep maroon, deep turquoise and a tough of gold. I am quite happy with these 60cm squares. I love the bold gestural marks and transparent layering. They are titled Hera, Andromeda and Hercules and belong in my Constellations series.

I have completed another set of seven. As always I wanted to try something different so I played with a more structural composition and the colours alizarin crimson, ultramarine blue and Indian yellow. I love the purples and oranges created. And the way the gold shines through the strong deep blues, pinks and oranges.

Pictured are the three large ones. I have titled them Shifting horizons, Building bridges and River of light.

These will all go up on Bluethumb and my website next week. Bluethumb are having a 10-15% off sale soon. Chance to get a bargain!

Another exciting opportunity has come my way. Yesterday, I was offered the wall space in another doctors surgery to display my work. I have accepted even though its unlikely I will sell any in that setting, I feel that I may be enriching peoples’ lives a little, getting greater exposure for my art and extending my storage space. So another busy time to prepare to set this up.

I am entering two works in the Art Society’s next exhibition at the Lady Franklin Gallery at Lenah Valley. The exhibition titled The light in winter runs through June on weekends 11am - 4pm.