In Search of colour

Studying Henry Moore

I recently visited Tate Britain with my daughter and 3-year-old grandson.

A 3-year old’s first train journey into London was an exciting experience, as well as entertaining for the entire carriage. He struck up a conversation with a little girl and her grandfather sitting opposite while they munched away on their crisps. When we got nearer to London, he let the whole carriage know he saw cranes and diggers and they were all working on a construction site. It was a joy to be travelling with such an enthusiastic and entertaining companion.

I have to admit I enjoy looking at building sites as well as industrial estates. They are a hive of activity and perhaps a promise of change or improvement, or even an opportunity for an entrepreneur to bring his dream to life in an affordable space. I spent over a year on a project focusing on a local industrial estate. I did so many little drawings of all the sights and sounds that I experienced at different times of the day. It brought back memories of my own father and his business on an industrial estate. I know I incorporated those childhood memories into the final art work I produced for that series.

We visited the Hogarth exhibition which was a bit much for a 3-year-old and I too did start to lose interest in looking at black and white drawings and muted paintings.

Had enough of Hogarth!

I needed colour, and I know the little person was getting bored.

Walking past Turner…

I need colour to lift my spirits, to create or relay a mood. Colour has a big affect on me. I recently produced some oils which I thought were finished. However for months something was bothering me about them and I realise now they are lacking vibrancy, strong colour, bright colour; colour to lift my mood.

We found colour in the British Art Galleries. We were especially taken with David Hockney, Partrick Heron and the Henry Moore sculptures.

However, the most interest shown by the little person was with the building itself, big spaces, tall ceilings, ramps, big colourful walls and spiral stairs.

Oh, to be able to run wildly about.