Ever since I was introduced to his work at Canterbury College of Art in the early 80's, Pierre Bonnard has been a major influence on my painting, not just his colour and invention but a whole process of working from drawings and memory. I thought it was about time we had a look at his work in our series of 'Freedom in Painting' workshops!
“I have all my subjects to hand, I go and look at them. I take notes. Then I go home. And before I start painting I reflect, I dream.”
Pierre Bonnard was a master of colour, capturing transience and beauty in the domestic interior. Rather than working directly from the subject he preferred to work from small drawings that allowed space for the imagination, freeing his heightened and intensified colour and radical compositions from straightforward description.The motif of the window, appears in many of his most iconic paintings, flooding his interiors with the light and colour from outside.
In preparation for the workshop, the 10 artists were asked to make studies of their favourite window and the relationship between inside and outside. Also to prepare their canvases with a pink ground.
Barry Kellington - drawing into painting...
After a brief settling in period and a chance to say hello to the other artists on the ZOOM platform, the workshop began with a Powerpoint presentation of Bonnard's work, showing the development of his unique style and methods, including the important role of drawing in his process. We were all inspired by the dazzling procession of 'window' paintings!
This was followed by a group drawing exercise, designed to echo Bonnards fluid compositions, and a colour exercise, with acylics on paper, finding a balance between warm and cool colours and introducing pattern.
Then it was time for my first painting demonstration, translating the drawings with colour, working the whole canvas. Bonnard's paintings are filled with remarkable brushwork and the artists, including myself, were asked to give up their palette-knives and use the paintbrush exclusively during the workshop. The artists then began their own paintings, which were discussed in a series of individual tutorials after lunch. For the tutorials, we ask the artists to email a photo of their painting in progress 5 minutes before their slot, giving me time to edit before sharing the image on screen to discuss.
Anna Badar
Jane Crane
Day 2, began with another demonstration. Overnight, I had made a list of changes to make, which I followed in the demonstration. The painting moves on to the next stage...
Bonnard's process was a slow one, incessant reflection and adjustment, over months, years, even decades and of course, impossible to reproduce in a 2-day workshop but I encouraged his process of looking and adjusting until the painting is found. Most of the artists worked on a single painting and above and below are examples of the changes made over the two days, including Beryl Hawker's remarkable interpretation of mirrored reflections. A photo becomes an idea becomes a painting, a mirror becomes a window...
Carol Hayslip
Brett Cooke
Beryl Hawker
During the day, the artists had a second one-to-one tutorial before a period of 'silent working time' in the afternoon. The artists then emailed me the final version of their paintings which I put together in a Powerpoint presentation for our final Group Tutorial. A great way to end the course, reviewing and discussing the paintings.
The ambition was not to make a pastiche of Bonnard but to use some of his bravery with colour, his dazzling brushwork, his inventiion with composition etc to make our own magical fusions of inside and outside, sourced in our favourite places. As you can see from the gallery below, that individuality shone through in a group of exciting paintings. Hats off to the artists!
GALLERY
ARTISTS COMMENTS:
'What a great workshop - afterwards I could see painting possibilties everywhere - as though my eyes had had a spring clean - all very liberating.' Anna Badar
'As always, our ZOOM meetings are inspirational and thought-provoking and I really enjoy them.' Jenny Kellington
'Bonnard is an intriguing artist and his way of seeing the world stimulated a fresh approach to painting the interior. Working though this challenge with Ashley's excellent demonstrations and tutorials was very satisfying.' Beryl Hawker
'I really enjoyed the workshop and especially the tutorials with Ashley. His gentle guidance hepled me resolve the first painting' Hazel Crawford