Studio News - June 2022
This month I've been reflecting on what 'failure' means to my arts practice and how embracing the things that go wrong can lead to new...
c H A R L O T T E w E N S L E Y
C O N T E M P O R A R Y A B S T R A C T A R T
Here you'll find all my latest musings on everything from practical art making tips and tricks to newly discovered insights. Check out my work in progress videos and selected links to other online resources and artists that I've found helpful in exploring and furthering my own arts practice.
- Jun 2
- 2 min
Little Limitations
Day 4 of Louise Fletcher's 'Find Your Joy' taster course was about limiting materials as a way to boost creativity, which sounds...
- Jun 2
- 2 min
Get, Set, Fail!
Every painting I make has failure points in it somewhere and most of them teeter on the edge of failure for days or even weeks! But I...
- Jun 2
- 2 min
Shake It Up!
Louise Fletcher's 'Find Your Joy' course - Assignment 2 The first part of the challenge was to pick up colours that you don't usually use...
- Jun 2
- 2 min
Play with Paint
Louise Fletcher's 'Find Your Joy Course' - Assignment 1 There were a few materials limitations ( 3 colours and black and white, with...
- May 9
- 1 min
Capturing Energy
A challenge for any artist is to capture and portray energy and dynamism on a static surface. It really comes down to the marks that are...
- May 6
- 1 min
Watch me work!
This painting is from my Curiosity Series, and amazingly I managed to catch most of it on video for you! All the paintings in this series...
- May 1
- 1 min
Something from Nothing
I'm not a hoarder exactly, but I do confess to being a saver! Whilst tidying up the studio as my latest series nears completion, I...
- Mar 10
- 2 min
Book me a Tangent
My paintings always reach a point where I need to let them sit for a while. I prop them up on the easel or hang them on the wall and...
- Feb 20
- 1 min
Embracing Limitations
Working with limited colours and materials can give us a new creative freedom to explore, experiment, test and try things out. As...
- Jan 27
- 1 min
Painting is a Journey - The Sub Way
It's a similar story with all of my paintings - from the chaotic beginnings to the final resolution, the journey is guided only by what...
- Jan 27
- 2 min
Sketchbook Time
My trusty sketchbook is never far away, whatever I'm working on in the studio. I see it as a free space, with no rules, just for play....
- Nov 29, 2021
- 1 min
Explore & Experiment
This short video tutorial will help you get started with a free and experimental mindset and guide you through the process of creating...
- Aug 27, 2021
- 2 min
'Are We There Yet' - Work in Progress
Every painting has it's own special journey. This piece started as an experiment with Gelli plate printing on a poly canvas piece, which...
- Jul 1, 2021
- 1 min
Deckchairs on the Green 2021
The 2021 Noosa Open Studios team have been busy preparing deckchair frames and canvases for this fantastic initiative. I've been busy...
- Apr 7, 2021
- 1 min
'Inhabit' Progress Movie
This piece was a challenge as I wanted to explore working on a smaller scale. My usual preference for canvas size is twice the size of...
- Apr 7, 2021
- 1 min
Exploring values in monochrome
Sometimes it's good to put away the colour for a day and work in monochrome. I find it's a great way to focus on mark making, explore...
- Apr 7, 2021
- 1 min
'Stacked' Progress Movie
See how this painting evolved. I photograph my work as I go, partly to do a value check here and there and partly so I can revisit...
- Apr 6, 2021
- 1 min
'Over Rule' Progress Movie
This painting was the first in my new 'Distillation Series'. I was exploring a new way of working and pushing my work towards greater...