Scottish artist Hazel Battersby creates paintings that are dynamic and expressive and invite you to look closer and discover exciting layers, marks and flashes of colour. Her work is rooted in landscape, inspired by visiting remote locations within the UK, but remains essentially abstract.
Luskentyre Beach, Harris
The act of walking, exploring and observing the ever-changing environment is part of the journey and process. exploration of mark-making, drawing and collage, both abstract and descriptive properties develop, and as they extend into paintings this continues to shift and change. I enjoy the initial marks that are made to the conversational layers that respond in stages to develop a painting. Back in the studio, a process of building up the physical layers of paint and media helps to encourage depth of mark-making, colour and shifts in composition. There is a sense of discovery through painting, building up and removing layers and the emergence of an image, that somehow takes command of the painting.
Notes From the Outer Hebrides…
Over the last few years I have visited the Outer Hebrides for inspiration. Each time it takes a long time to reach our destination but it is always completely worth it. It’s quite a barren place with few people around and if you are out and about it can be hard to find somewhere that sells coffee, but the landscape is stunning. The light is intense, constantly changing on the land and enriching all colour on the island. The sea changes from turquoise to manganese, then to phthalo blue. The ever changing sky and moody weather create such a playful dance of sunshine peeping through rain clouds in the sky. There were dolphins, seals, and golden eagles in plentiful supply, if you were patient enough. We walked, they fished and I drew.
Wonderful.
Sketchbooks
I use sketchbooks to document and explore ideas whilst on location. Here, I became fascinated with the ever changing sky, the light and the intense blue and rich turquoise colours of the sea. Sharing some of the drawings. All studies are pencil, charcoal and soft pastel.
Exploring Ideas Through Collage…
Using collage to develop thoughts and consider composition and colour. Collage can be particularly useful for unearthing new directions for paintings. I like that it helps help generate ideas quickly and it can produce surprising results.Using collage to develop thoughts and consider composition and colour. Collage can be particularly useful for unearthing new directions for paintings. I like that it helps help generate ideas quickly and it can produce surprising results.
Paintings are consistently reviewed, as the composition and adjustment of subtle, bold and contrasting colour and mark is paramount to its success. As each develops, changes become more considered, but bold marks keep paintings energetic and expressive.
