This week we visited the studio of Wiltshire’s top abstract landscape artist for a candid insight into her world, with a few fun questions.
Q & A With Karen Welsh:
1/. Q: When did you decide to become a professional artist? A: After finishing my sign-writing business in 2008 I began painting full time professionally.
2/. Q: What Inspires you to start a new painting? A: I paint most days, there are so many paintings in me, the inspiration is always there.
3/. Q: How do you stay motivated during your artistic process? A: Once I start a painting it keeps me motivated as my method is to make the work evolve instinctively.
4/. Q: When is your favourite time of day to paint? A: Early morning, the day is young and I am always excited as to what the day may hold.
5/. Q: Can you walk us through your creative process? A; I put a new canvas on the easel and using a limited colour palette I cover the entire canvas in colour, then I look for shapes to work with. Charcoal helps me find form that enables me to progress with the work.
6/. Q: How do you handle constructive criticism of your work? A: I welcome constructive criticism but will always decide on it’s validity!
7/. Q: tell us about your favourite medium? A: Acrylics are my favourite medium used alongside charcoal. I once painted with oil paints but as I’m impatient the quicker drying paint suits me, but I will paint in oils again one day.
8/. Q: What music do you listen to while painting? A: I don’t listen to music very often. When I do it could be classical, Vivaldi or Damon Albarn & The Gorillaz. Usually I listen to other well- know artist interviews and art history documentaries, I’m always learning.
9/. Q: Who are your biggest artistic influences? A: That’s a very difficult question, there are simply so many. Abstract expression changed the way I paint from representational to abstract and modern painting.
10/. Q: What is your favourite colour to work with and why? A: I don’t think I have a favourite colour but yellow, orange and Quinacradone Magenta I do use for many accents in my work.
11/. Q: Does art help you in other areas of your life? A: I live and breath art, apart from when I’m watching television. I think about art all the time.
12/. Q: How has your style changed over time? A: My painting style has changed completely, I could never go back to the straw-bails and bluebell wood that I once painted in a more realistic, impasto style.
13/. Q: What is your favourite part of being a professional artist? A: Painting everyday, experimenting with and developing my style, being engulfed in the ever changing world of art.
14/. Q: What is your least favourite part of being a professional artist? A: I can’t think there’s anything I don’t enjoy, I love it all.
15/. Q: Do you ever have creative blocks and if so how do you overcome them? A: So far, I have never had a creative block! The way I work lends itself to pushing forward all the time. There is so much to paint.
Karen’s new exhibition brochure now available to collect from Gallery 21 Call in, view the show and collect your copy today.
16/. Q: What other interests do you have? A: Nothing really, apart from my spending any spare time with my lovely family.
17/. Q: What is your most important artist tool? A: My ceramic Scraffito tool which I use to help create all my textured elements of my work.
18/. Q: What element of art you enjoy working with most? A: The interesting people I meet and hearing their interpretations of the paintings I make.
19/. Q: What are you reading at the moment? A: W.H.Hudson’s ‘A Shepherds Tail’ a book about Salisbury, the Plains and the Wylye Valley.
20/. Q: Finally how do you define success as an artist? A: When I hear the wonderful comments and obtaining great gallery exposure.