Rainy days made bright and colourful with umbrellas. Distant views are a mystery. Wondering if the sunshine peeking through clouds is coming or going. These are some of the observations one might think about when looking at Maddalena Pacini’s paintings.
This Bristol-based artist has a fantastic way of leading the viewer to wonder and we love that about Maddalena Pacini. Her use of texture, colour and depth are all part of what leads us to the mysterious quality of her work.
Read more about what inspires Maddalena and how she goes about creating her thought-provoking work in this week’s Artist of the Week.
Have you always wanted to be an artist?
Yes, ever since I was a child playing with crayons, creating visual worlds for my imagination to inhabit. And when I got my first water colour set things just sort of took off from there. Art was my best and favourite subject in school.
You went to Art College, what was your experience like?
I was born in Bristol and studied at the West of England College of Art, where my tutors included Paul Feiler and Robert Hurdle. I studied at Bristol University and South Glamorgan Institute obtaining a B.A. (Hons).
After the benefits of a traditional art education rooted in the principles of design and draughtsmanship, I am almost inevitably, a realist artist and the control of colour and light are still the fascinating daily challenges. When I concentrate on a Still Life or detail from a larger subject, I re-live the pleasure of close observation inculcated in my student days. For me, a Still Life is never a Nature Morte. When painted, even an inanimate object can express vitality. With interiors, I am particularly drawn to what is mysterious or suggested leaving a subliminal narrative open to interpretation by the viewer.
Who are your influences?
Wyeth, Tindle, Hopper and Vermeer.
What inspires you?
Fortunate, for long periods, to have lived in Italy – particularly Venice – I have latterly made regular trips to Provence and Northern France. These experiences, and a lifetime’s love of Jazz, are obviously reflected in my work.
What feeling or thoughts do you aim to inspire with your work?
An air of mystery, a sort of trigger for the imagination so that the viewer can write their own story.
Do you paint from life, photographs or both?
Both, in that I paint from photographs or sketches I’ve made from life or in the case of still life I paint directly from the subject.
What painting are you most proud of this year?
A Splash of Sunshine, acrylic on canvas, 28 x 35 cm.
Where do you work?
In my studio at home or out sketching en plein air.
Do you like to listen to music when you paint?
I prefer silence or Radio 4. I do however take musical breaks on the piano next door to my studio.
If you had one piece of advice for someone seeking a career in art what would it be?
Follow your heart. You’ll probably need a day job to survive but keep doing what you love and eventually people will take notice of your work.
Do you sell internationally?
Yes. I’ve shipped work to USA, Denmark, Germany, Sweden and UK.
View more work by Maddalena Pacini
