A Turner in the life of an artist…
My fascination for the works of JMW Turner and his process started when I was at college studying interior design. Viewing his works at the British Museum and the Tate was a regular part of my creative life. I am deeply curious about how Turner used watercolour technique with oil paint, the great expanse of his landscapes and the fluent conversation with the viewer made it all very interesting for me. I would like my viewers to feel emotion. So I wanted my sky and coast artworks to express emotions I kept in my head for a very long time. I kept them in my heart and unshared.
During the early stages of my Turner inspired paintings I have visited St Ives and studied the ocean how the waves behaved at different times of the day. Looking up at the sky for so long until my eyes would tear up at the brightness fearful I would miss the clouds in motion. It was one of the most exciting and fun things to do while in Cornwall. They’re all recorded in my journal, a few photos and videos but mostly deep in my head. I paint from memory way better than looking at a photo. I have spent countless times looking at his paintings at exhibitions and reading the books written about him. Watching indepth talks about his work at the British Museum and online is a regular thing. When I find myself stuck with one of my paintings, in my head I would ask, ‘‘what would Turner do?’’, my friends thought I’ve gone really mad sometimes. But I’m an artist so I really do have a big imagination!
The Tate Gallery exhibition of JMW Turner
Turner’s love of painting ‘‘en plein air’’ was boundless as many of you know that he once tied himself to the mast of a steam-ship for hours so he could observe a nocturnal storm!
JMW Turner, Snow Storm-Steam Boat off a Harbour’s Mouth 1842
Lorelei Hopkins, Quiet Coast 2024, 30cm x 30cm acrylic mixed media
Quiet Coast mixed media, 45x45cm framed size. Sold.
I have yet to explore painting ‘‘en plein air’’, which I will do on my next visit to St Ives this August! Below is another painting featured at the Bluehouse Art Space gallery exhibition for Surrey Artists Open Studios.
Lorelei Hopkins, The Sky Sings a Quiet Symphony, 2024 acrylic mixed media
The Sky Sings a Quiet Symphony, St Ives frame, 45x45cm framed size.
Follow this link to view more of my paintings currently on exhibition. Surrey Artist Open Studios, 1-23 June 2024.