When the sub-conscience takes over

I set out on a walk to Sharpham to get a view of the river-I knew I wanted to have the river in the picture. So, on a very blustery wet day I sat on a hill and did these sketches

I took them back to the studio (totally soaked and cursing!) and went through my usual process of chopping and cropping and turning some of the very damp work into collage which I pasted on a giant 1 metre square board. I felt the need to be expansive-at last .

At this stage i have got down some things i liked about the site i was sketching, and i think i have captured some of the blustery energy

Then something strange eventuated-the resulting work was a complete curve ball! I don’t usually have an idea of what is going to emerge, but THIS? LEAVES! And my sketches were left like wallflowers at a high school dance!

I actually love it when the subconscious bosses it! Of course, the walk to my sketching spot was a damp leaf-littered autumn glory-deep mulch, beautiful smells of earth and trees and the riverbank all muddy with rich colours and a lovely stillness, which was a far cry from the mad wind taking place on the hill

Sometimes the things that impress us the most will override our best laid plans. This is the Magic in making Art and allowing things to unfold , as they will!

What Happened Here?

Bideford Black