CK Wood’s glorious poppy paintings are well-loved at Art2Arts. Though she’s a professionally trained artist with bags of talent, CK worked various jobs as she made her way to becoming a full-time painter. Here she reveals all about her process, inspirations, and artistic journey.

What were your experiences like at Leeds and Stockport colleges of art?

My time at college was essential for me – giving me time to experiment with different techniques, subjects and mediums. Studying surface pattern rather than fine art was a good choice for me too, as I loved the idea of texture in art and the experimentation involved in creating new techniques.

How did your interest in painting develop?

From a young age I always enjoyed drawing and painting – and excelling in art at school made me realise I did have a talent and I was encouraged by school to take it further.

How did you become interested in florals?

At college really. Previously I had enjoyed mainly drawing landscape and animals – but at college I had more mediums at hand and would experiment with water colours, acrylics and oils. And flowers were always available for us to paint, and I found I had a flair to paint them and loved the vibrancy of their colours and form.

How do you choose your subjects?

Quite often, it is based on how I am feeling that day, from what I have experienced around me – the colours and flowers I have seen and the feelings stirred in me. I do like to spend time within the peacefulness of nature, in a quite garden full of flowers, rolling hillsides or just a peaceful meadow or lake – watching nature and tuning into the beauty of it all.

Could you describe the process you go through in imagining, planning, and creating a painting?

I have a feeling or mood that I want to put to canvas – If I plan or think too much about what I want to create, then I lose the feeling, so I just go with the flow of the feeling that I have at that time and the painting develops that way. Though I guess I must follow some process, they are subconscious.

What are your favourite types of paints to use?

I mainly use acrylics – but I do have other mediums at hand which I also use to create the effects I want. Acrylics can be quite flat, so mixing them with texture mediums or gloss mediums can add vibrancy and depth. Oils, which I sometimes work with are great at blending colours.

Who and what are your main inspirations?

I love the moods and the romance created by the Pre-Raphaelites and the Impressionists. Though my inspiration is the natural environment around me.

What other jobs have you had?

Before making a living as a full time artist, as a single mum I had to keep working whilst trying to establish myself as an artist. I have had many jobs, mainly administrative work, but also call centre, debt collection, warehouse work and cleaning.

Do you every get creative blocks, and if so, how do you deal with them?

Occasionally I do yes – I get days when I have no inspiration or desire to paint what so ever. I sit down to paint and I am just at a loss to were to start and my heart isn’t in it. I have found the only way to overcome this, is to have a break from it. Otherwise its futile trying. Thankfully the desire and inspiration always does come back. If it didn’t then I would have to stop.

What advice do you have to young artists just starting out?

I think the best advice would be to keep trying and to keep establishing your style, keep true to yourself and your work and don’t let any knock backs effect you too much. If you work hard enough and keep at it you will eventually succeed.

See more of CK Wood’s popular poppies at her Art2Arts profile page.

You can now own an original piece of art with a 0% APR interest free loan. Art2Arts are pleased to offer 10 months’ interest free credit* through Arts Council England’s Own Art scheme. Art collecting is hot news at the moment, with more and more people buying art as a financial investment, and record prices being seen at auction houses around the world. The own art scheme gives just about anyone the chance to get on the ladder and begin investing in fine art. It’s a great way to support contemporary UK artists, while gaining a piece of original art that will truly enrich your living space.

Own Art is only available through galleries, museums and other arts organisations that have been approved by Arts Council England, Creative Scotland or Arts Council of Northern Ireland as registered members of the scheme.

How does Own Art work?
Buy any piece of artwork on the site, or commission an artist to create a piece priced between £100 – £2000, and spread the cost over 10 monthly installments (typical example: artwork costs £300, 10 monthly payments of £30). There’s no deposit required, however, if you would prefer to make an initial payment you can use the scheme as part payment and spread the remaining amount (typical example: artwork costs £300, you would like to pay £100 upfront, spread the remaining £200 over 10 monthly payments of £20).

You can purchase multiple pieces as long as the total cost does not exceed £2000.

 

Applying is easy, and the criteria are quite inclusive:
If you would like to apply for our interest-free loan please email your contact details to sales@art2arts.co.uk or call 023 92699 990.

 Own Art is available to all UK residents over the age of 18, subject to status. This means that you must be able to meet the following criteria in order to be approved for a loan:

• Over the age of 18
• A permanent UK resident
• Working at least 16 hours a week (employed or self-employed)

If you are not working but are married to or living with a partner who does have a full time job, then you may still apply provided that your partner is happy for their employment details to be included on your application form.

Visit the Art2Arts online gallery to see the hundreds of original art pieces that you could buy right away with an interest-free loan from the Own Art Scheme.

Art2Arts is a licensed broker of Own Art loans. Registered address: 30 Lower Derby Road, Stamshaw, Portsmouth, PO2 8EX.

 

 

April artist of the month Stewart Wilson’spopular paintings feature a unique style. This is the result of applying the paint directly to the canvas with his fingers and a palette knife, rather than a brush. Here he tells me all about his career trajectory, from traveling businessman in marketing, to successful cityscape artist.

Penny:  Did you go to art college?
Stewart:  I didn’t go to art college although I was in those days, an A level art student who could have gone but my interest was in marketing and my dream was to train within an ad agency. My father was a talented fine artist and I was tutored by him from an early age but he never pressured me into an artistic career. He always advised me to make progress in my 20s and 30s via a commercial career and savour the art in later years – good advice

How did your interest in cityscapes and nightscapes develop?
During my business career I traveled extensively throughout the world inevitably staying in city centre hotels and often unfortunately on my own. For years I carried an old leather-bound sketch book and would stare outside the window and observe the human activity down in the streets. It was a surreal situation being in numerous strange towns watching the nightlife which always seemed more exciting than the hotel. I captured many streets in many cities and my many sketches are all set in evening light.  Even more surreal is that my studio is located in a 17^th Century building in the middle of the Derbyshire countryside and I have little ambition to paint rural scenes like my father.  (The city is so much more exciting )

Could you describe the process you go through in imagining, planning, and creating a painting?
A lot of my work is commissioned and for this I have to be truer to the subject so I work from client’s photos, or I take photos and sketches and discuss with the client. They are often corporate and working to a group brief so I have to gain an understanding of their expectations with great discipline.
As for my gallery work I seldom paint from life but prefer to enclose myself in my wonderful studio. When I have the freedom like this my best work arrives, listening as always to incredibly loud music and often working well into the night (with the company of a little red wine).
I have a process of a kind which normally starts from a very large file that I keep containing anything from old sketch observations, magazine cuttings or anything that inspires. I look through this all the time and usually end up dreaming constantly. It keeps me awake because I churn over the concept, angles and colours etc. At the start of the painting process my palette is decided and mixed ready and canvas placed. The concept is in my head and I play some appropriate music and stand terrified in front of the easel. I start to lay paint with my knives which has been thickened overnight (secret method) in a frenzied action and then after 10 minutes or so I calm down and work more controlled till lunch. (I always have sardines and salad plus 1 piece of bread.)
Following lunch I stare at the easel and convince myself that I have failed and dare myself to scrape it off. I eventually talk myself through the crisis and paint calmly ‘til about 6pm.
By this stage most of the canvas is filled with paint but not finished. I now know that I have about 2 days to do interesting tweaks during various stages of paint setting. (This is when the magic commences.)
At 6pm I climb out of my overalls clean up, pour red wine and sit back and observe the canvas. I still work on the canvas in a clean way sipping wine and winding down.
Although working on other paintings in various stages of completion I spend the next two days twitching and tweaking and aiming for perfection.

What are your favourite types of paints to use?
I paint only with knives and fingers and the important aspect to the paint is forming an impasto quality. I have no favourite brand but I do “doctor” it to my required consistency.

Who and what are your main inspirations?
If you look at Boulevard Montmartre at Night by Camille Pissarro it sums up my deep love for impressionism. But a more contemporary urban take on it.
I am not a pretentious painter and I love the attitude of David Hockney. With his brave northern grit he seems to mock those precious arty types.

What other jobs have you had?
Up until the age of 52 I progressed up the greasy pole of corporate life. Most of my career was spent within high-end fashion brands. I worked as a director of design and brand management for several international companies and was based in several worldwide locations.

Do you every get creative blocks, and if so, how do you deal with them?
Not very often. Painting is about observing life and I have an interesting life.  I have several professional artist friends but of course they are no damned help as they usually have their own “blockages” to contend with.

What advice do you have to young artists just starting out?
It’s a shame that hundreds of young artist go through the college system and most of them end up working in a supermarket.
Making a living out of painting isn’t easy. Maybe we don’t tell them that they will have to be self employed as there are no apprenticeships or youth training schemes that I know of.

As well as being an artist they will have to be a:

Photographer

Graphic Designer

Web designer

Sales Person

Book Keeper

Secretary

Packer and Shipper

Van Driver

And the list goes on

I sincerely do feel for most of these young people who expect to make a living once leaving college but their future in pure arts is doubtful in the short term. So my advice is indeed get a job in ASDA but maybe for only 3 days a week and spend the rest of your time building up your brand and your business. Spend at least a year refining a really unique look and stick to it because this will become your USP and your Brand.

And then the fun part – get a really big folio case and cold call the galleries – character building stuff!

 See more of Stewart’s colourful and energetic work at his Art2Arts page. 

It’s finally here, woohoo! To celebrate the glorious spring weather, here are my top picks from the spring-themed paintings at Art2Arts.Prelude to Spring by Maureen Greenwood.

Making great use of impasto and and texture, Prelude to Spring also bursts with colour and exciting composition. It’s guaranteed to make any home or corporate interior spring into life (sorry).

Narcissus 1 by Diana Anderson

Russian-born Diana Anderson quotes Henry Ward Beecher in saying that “Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.” With Narcissus 1, she’s literally brought nature into the picture, and this energetic, bold floral is ideal for the contemporary home interior, or home office.

Freston Woods by Marc Bedingfield

You can’t be blue with bluebells on the way, and this fine art photographic print by Marc Bedingfield captures the spring light perfectly. The closeups in the foreground could make you feel like you’re really there- beautiful stuff.

Calla Lily by Victoria Stothard

Fans of Georgia O’Keefe will appreciate Victoria Stothard’s bold single lily arrangement. Prolific artist Victoria has created and sold over 2000 works, and despite her success, her works remain affordable as she believes art should be accessible to everyone.

Clarity Landscape by CK Wood.

CK Wood’s poppy and landscape paintings sell all over the world, to collectors in countries including Singapore, the US, and Spain. She finds inspiration in the natural beauty of her surrounding landscape, and we can see how spring colours and freshness have influenced Clarity Landscape.