I’m thrilled to introduce you to a very special guest artist, Deryn Abrahams works from her home studio at the foot of Mont Blanc in the French Alps. She graduated in 1993 with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art where she was awarded for an outstanding student final show. This was proceeded by a PGCE in Art and Design and a successful career in teaching for many years before emigrating to France with her family in 2005. While raising a family, she started to logistically support mountain guides, climbers and skiers and her love for the mountains grew deeper. While living in the mountains, she has always kept up a sketchbook practice but it was not until her two children started their own life adventures that the opportunity to go back to her artistic roots and develop as an artist presented itself. Inspiration comes from the Alpine landscape; the ever-changing mountain narrative. Immersed physically and emotionally in the environment, she creates pieces which brings the outside inside; translating the places, the moments, the weather and the light of the Chamonix valley to a series of mixed-media, semi-abstract works. Capturing the joy and deep connection to nature in beautiful painting, collage and photography. We can all slow down when we notice how rocks have been weathered over millennia, or how our local environment changes with the seasons; we are both on our own journey and part of the journey of the world. Bringing these feelings and that element of discovery into her work produces pieces which invite reflection and joy. The paintings embody a simple life, one where we have time to observe and imagine; or just be in the present moment. Over the last few years, Deryn has been selling locally and internationally and is currently working on a new series to be released in June 2022. She shares her process regularly on Instagram (@derynabrahams_art)
Hi Deryn can you tell us a little about how you got into painting?
It was a natural progression from the mix-media drawing studies I was creating while finding my way back into a studio practice after taking such a long break and taking part in the Creative Visionary Program with Nicholas Wilton.
What inspires your creative process?
Curiosity; what will happen if I, how did they do that and how do I mix that colour? Being engrossed in discovery, experimentation and learning. The constant challenge of translating the feeling I am feeling onto paper. The magic of something developing and emerging from a blank canvas or board. Feeling of potential before you start and not worrying in the messy middle; seeing it as wonderful history of the search for something through layers of paint on the journey.
What is it about your subject matter that appeals to you?
I am really privileged to be able to live in the Alps and it constantly offers a unique, wild, raw landscape that captures your heart. Through hiking, climbing and creative work, I feel a connection to the ever-changing landscape; the time of day, the weather, the different seasons. This contact with the elements can energise or calm you – the wind in your hair, the sun on your face, even cold hands from sketching too long.
Your photography is amazing, how does that tie into your creative practice?
Photography has always been part of my creative practice. At University it was the medium with which I expressed my ideas resulting in a series of large-scale night images of the Cumbrian landscape. Nowadays, I find it invaluable for capturing moments in the landscape, to support sketchbook studies and inspire paintings in the studio. Currently, I am taking a photo everyday of the sky from our balcony for ‘The 100 Day Project’ (#100daysofweatherwatching) which is now the inspiration for a new body of work I am working on. The wonder of a smart phone means you can always have a camera with you and the processing apps today are amazing, a portable darkroom in your pocket! In the summer months I have been also exploring an alternative photographic printing process which uses two chemicals and sunlight to produce an image, Cyanotypes. Photography crossing into painting when applying the photosensitive solution, it relies upon.
I love following your sketchbook posts on Instagram. What in your view are the benefits of starting a sketchbook practice?
It’s a fabulous place to be yourself! To follow your curiosity and experiment without the pressure of an end result. A portable studio. A place for everything; resources, composition ideas, colour mixing & palettes, artist research, value studies, studio log, notes, thoughts and reflections.
How does having a sketchbook practice inform your painting?
For me, it is integral to the whole process of creating. It can be the inspiration and starting point, a place to try things out during the messy middle stage in the search for feelings, marks, colours and happy accidents and finally a place to reflect on your creative process.
What tips can you give our readers who would like to start working in their sketchbooks?
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Don’t be precious, if it you don’t like a page move on, you can always collage or paint over it.
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Take it with you everywhere.
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Experiment with different media, different processes & even where you like to work.
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I love to mask off the edges of the picture shape I am working with because I am so messy and like the contrast of clean edges with contained chaos.
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If you feel constrained by the page why not work on loose sheets and then collage them into your pages. There are so many exciting ways to use a sketchbook!
What informs your colour palette?
Anything that catches my eye and makes me go ooh. The incredible colours in the world around us, ever-changing skies, magazines, old posters, weathered paint, new discoveries when colour mixing and a love for art history, the work other artists that I am drawn to.
What are your 3 most important art supplies?
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My sketchbook
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A much-abused household paintbrush
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Dental tools, it’s as much about removing paint as adding it.
Any advice for people who would like to begin painting but are put off by the belief that they are not ‘creative’?
Start with a sketchbook and create a collection of things you are drawn too, marks, colours, shapes, subject matter, paintings, sculptures, skies for inspiration. Spend time just mixing colours and seeing which combinations you like. Start small and paint often this will give you confidence and experience working through the whole process from start to finish. Follow your curiosity and enjoy the process. The journey will lead you to your destination.
Anything else that you would like to add?
Why not do a course, it’s always fun learning with others and there are plenty of great courses out there! Feel free to get in touch if you would like to ask anything else via my Instagram @derynabrahams_art
Find out more about Deryn.
