Walking is imperative for producing the best landscape paintings, says Claire Wiltsher.
The British artist is a keen walker and for her latest painting has walked from Weymouth to Portland and then onto Lyme Regis.
She has to immerse herself in the landscape to understand and experience it and only then can she translate her feelings on to the canvas.
“My painting Lost in the Storm was inspired by the drama of the sea while walking across to Portland,” explains Claire.
“It was painted from memory with photos to guide me. I wanted to capture the moment. I enjoy working with muted colour and shades of grey! I also wrote a poem, which connects with this painting. It is an exhilarating feeling to be ‘Lost in a Storm’.”
This painting will be in the group Autumn show starting at the Lyndhurst gallery. There is a rare opportunity to see Claire at work in her studio from November 22 to December 2 at 18 Romsey Road, Lyndhurst, Hampshire, UK as part of Artists at Work 2013.
Winter, highs and lows
by Claire WiltsherEarthbound carcass horizontally you lay.
Bone, seaweed, string and torn tissue,
Patterned with pebbles ,waves echoe
Beaten by the sea.
A kestrel brown arrow, flits above
The panoramic view in monochrome,
Silently wait, against the breeze on high.
Distracted by black crow
They both dance with feathers,
An ancient tune,
Twist and drop
Scream and fall,
Crow wins the sky.
Highs feed imagination,
Swallow space, and sparkle.
Dreams live in the clouds,
Climb elated above to the edge.
Lows fill the ground like pouring liquid rock.
Vapours withstand briefly the crush of time.
Firmly fix, solid steps up,
Move forward don’t stop
Up,up, follow the sun.www.clairewiltsher.com
