© Copyright Shani Wray-Jenkins 2023
From my studio window, across the fields, there’s a lone tree which always draws my eye. There’s a path that leads straight to it. Sometimes, the field is left fallow and in the extreme heat of summer, we are rewarded with the most glorious crop of poppies and a golden field of grass. This abstract landscape painting is a joyful moment captured in time.
‘September Song’ is one of my favourite songs by JP Cooper, a singer introduced to me by my daughter. She even bought tickets for us to go see him play, which was such a treat and a special bonding moment. I’ve played his songs on loop ever since!
I was so thrilled with this, one of my first ever pastel paintings (a new medium for me that I tried out at the beginning of the year). And I think it’s the rich, autumnal colours that brought this particular song title to mind. Even as I write, I feel compelled to listen to his fabulous voice once again... I’m off for a listen 😊
I am always inspired by the work of The Scottish Colourists, The Group of Seven and the Fauvists especially, with their loose brush strokes and energetic en plein air paintings.
Following their lead, I play here with colour complements – cool lilacs and purples against warm yellows and earthy reds. I paint quickly, keeping the brush strokes loose and flowing so that none of the energy is lost.
There’s nothing so magical as a stand of silver birch with their beautiful long boles catching and reflecting the light. There’s a peat forest near me that enchants me every time. The ground is so soft to walk on, and the silver birch trees there are simply captivating, whatever the season. I love the way they group together like old friends waiting in line. This piece, as with many of my woodland paintings, starts with a layer of collage. I chose newspaper, hand-written letters, pages from musical scores and old calligraphy books. If you look carefully, you’ll see some of them peeking out from behind the layers of paint.
This painting is available through The Primrose Gallery, Thrapston, Northants. UK (go to https://primrosegallery.co.uk )
I’m forever chasing shadows and love to capture the patterns that trees make at certain times of day, the slanting shapes that play along the pathways. This woodland painting is one of my first in soft pastels. It gives such a rich, creamy depth of colour unlike any other medium and is perfect for capturing light and shadows.
Trees are so incredible don’t you think? I will ever tire of painting them, and I believe that adding a treescape artwork to your home or office has such a calming and soul-soothing effect.
Coming out of the depth of the wood and seeing the sun play on the fields beyond the farmer’s gate is always such a moment of joy. This is a scene from a walk I took last summer, captured on my phone camera – couldn’t resist painting it as I just love capturing the light and shadows in a woodland scene such as this.
This little painting on canvas, is just the right size for a cosy corner that needs lighting up.
Inspired by the Scottish Colourists (and a new box of exquisite soft pastels) I decided to paint a woodland walk with a difference. Take a walk on the wild side with me and lose yourself in the magic of colour.
This painting is available through The Primrose Gallery, Thrapston, Northants. UK ( go to https://primrosegallery.co.uk )
Do you have a favourite little spot in the garden where you sit and have a cuppa, read a book, listen to the birdsong, maybe even snooze off for a while? I do, and it’s a little like this. Under a favourite tree, where I can feel the sun’s warmth in the morning, and later in the afternoon, it gives me shade.
Bring that feeling into your every day with this vibrant, sun-filled artwork.
I love using bare twigs as decoration in my home. Just something about the twisting stems and the mossy patches. And if you place it to catch the sun at certain times of day, the shadows are simply beautiful! So I was pleased to be able to capture this image in just the perfect light.
Walking the edges of the fields late on an autumn afternoon, down the ‘drifts’ as they are called here, we are rewarded with beautiful light against the horizon, filtering through the trees. This special time of day is a favourite time for taking photos – and then painting the results. This one is in oils, a departure for me!
I am always inspired by the work of The Scottish Colourists, The Group of Seven and the Fauvists especially, with their loose brush strokes and energetic en plein air paintings.
Here, I play here with complimentary colours that I love – oranges and blues in loosely painted layers where every brush stroke is visible. I wanted to capture the feeling of a warm summer’s evening, with marmalade skies against blue trees, invoking sundown on a quiet lane.
Silver birch trees are a favourite of mine, I love the way the light dances through the golden green leaves. Look closely! Alive with texture, this painting features little glimpses of collaged text in the tree trunks, from some of my favourite old hand written-letters, music scores and pages from a lovely old calligraphy book. You could say I’m putting the paper that came from trees… back into the trees!
Woods are a favourite of mine for walking. And my favourite time of year is when the trees begin to turn their leaves to gold, red and orange and they carpet the woodland floor in all their glory. Such luminous colours are easy to fall in love with, don’t you agree? This painting captures all the emotions I experience at this time of year in a rich and layered painting.
ACRYLIC, OIL PASTEL & INK ON PAPER/WOOD PANEL
Set in a St Ives frame, painted in Farrow & Ball off white, measuring 67 x 57cm
Do you love bluebell season? I do.
When the woods are carpeted in violet blue and the air is rich with their fragrance, I know for certain that summer is finally here!
Bring the joy of that time into your home every day with this lovely woodland art scene of silver birch trees and dots of joyous colour., layered over collage with intriguing glimpses of text, newspaper and hand-written letters peeking out.
Silver birch trees are a favourite of mine, I love the way the light dances through the golden green leaves. Alive with texture, this beautifully serene painting features little glimpses of collaged text in the tree trunks that play amongst the paint. Look closely – do you see part of a hand-written letter maybe?
NOTE: This painting is now sold, if you’d like something similar, I am open for commissions.
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© Copyright Shani Wray-Jenkins 2023