Wednesday night saw the opening of Caroline Bullocks charming new show at 28 Charlotte Street. The new collection of delicate naive paintings express beautifully the artists personal thoughts and observations. With a twist of humor in places (take note of the Duck House) this delightful show is a rare treat not to be missed.
I was brought up to be observant, for example searching for a particular tiny shell on the beach, or for wild strawberries in a hedgerow, and to enjoy looking at things. My mother is a good painter, influenced by Christopher Wood, and my father became a potter, aged 45.
Bedales is an 'arty' school. At Bedales Junior School, aged 11, it was remarked that I had a 'flair for painting', and I remember being asked to paint a birthday card for the headmaster. I have greatly enjoyed painting for as long as I can remember, but I was lucky at Bedales to be encouraged and appreciated by the Art Master, Christopher Cash, who liked my individual naive style. He might have told me I was no good I failed 'A' Level Art twice, which I think does my Art Master credit, and shows I am a truly naive artist.
People suggest to me that I have a 'vision', but when I paint I try to paint things as they are, as accurately as I can. I treat colour particularly carefully because it is so pleasing, and artists often get it wrong. My subject matter is usually something I have seen, but I sometimes paint religious or imaginative scenes. I look hard, with 'my paint eyes' at what I'm intending to paint , maybe make a pencil note, then go away and 'put the subject through my seive' until I am ready to paint it - maybe a year later.
My early work is painted in gouache, but now I use oil paintings. They are forgiving in use, and have the gentle quality I want.
Bedales is an 'arty' school. At Bedales Junior School, aged 11, it was remarked that I had a 'flair for painting', and I remember being asked to paint a birthday card for the headmaster. I have greatly enjoyed painting for as long as I can remember, but I was lucky at Bedales to be encouraged and appreciated by the Art Master, Christopher Cash, who liked my individual naive style. He might have told me I was no good I failed 'A' Level Art twice, which I think does my Art Master credit, and shows I am a truly naive artist.
People suggest to me that I have a 'vision', but when I paint I try to paint things as they are, as accurately as I can. I treat colour particularly carefully because it is so pleasing, and artists often get it wrong. My subject matter is usually something I have seen, but I sometimes paint religious or imaginative scenes. I look hard, with 'my paint eyes' at what I'm intending to paint , maybe make a pencil note, then go away and 'put the subject through my seive' until I am ready to paint it - maybe a year later.
My early work is painted in gouache, but now I use oil paintings. They are forgiving in use, and have the gentle quality I want.