Ooh, it feels like Spring is just around the corner…!
This is Gary once again: How are you all? Is life treating you well?
A LOT has been happening since we last spoke: so nothing changes, then!
Since the launch of our latest full Collection (‘Soup2Nuts’) back in January, Ann hasn’t stopped, with a trio of ambitious new entries in the Carnival of Wonders almost done.
But. There are quite a few of you, who we know are here for her wildlife work: Hares, especially! Perhaps you’ve been wondering if she would ever return to the subjects that first drew you to her as an artist? If that’s you, then I recommend you settle down with a cuppa & read on…!
The beady-eyed among you, might have seen Ann’s ‘Neon Hare’ from late last year? Well, so many of you have warmed to this style, that she felt inspired to expand that initial painting into a small collection of three. For those of you unfamiliar with the stunning look Ann’s achieved with this work, I’ve included a re-cap of that original piece, too.
If you’re looking for bright, fresh and – most importantly, ENERGETIC – work to lift the greyest of days, then we might have just the thing for you!
On the other hand… I’ve got another Hare in a completely new style at the very end. This new painting is called ‘Moonshine’ and, as the title suggests, it swaps colour-soaked neons for a calmer, more comforting palette. Will it lead to something more? Only time will tell!
Before I go, our thanks to all of you for your support. We don’t take any of this for granted and we couldn’t do it without you…
Our Best Wishes to you,
Ann & Gary
PS. Before I forget… Our COMPLETELY NEW website is now up-and-running! You’ll find links to both Original Works and our Fine-Art Prints alongside each of the new pieces below…
BUT… if you feel the need to pop over there and have a look now, be my guest: we can find the remaining bugs together!
The sight of a hare mid-leap is truly inspiring… The way they effortlessly bounce over fields, never fails to mesmerise (when we’re lucky to catch sight of them!). That explosive, darting motion is what Ann aimed to encapsulate in this piece. Observing the final artwork, it’s hard to imagine how his might’ve turned-out any better….
The painting radiates a potent force, that lifts the subject from the canvas; it’s bursting with joy and liberation. Vitality.
The creation of this superb artwork only became possible, after we’d discovered an extraordinary paint from Holbein. Though we’d long been aware of this venerable Japanese brand of paints, we’d never had cause to use them. That was, until we stumbled upon a small range of what they called ‘Luminous’ colours.
They’re well-named as it turns out, for each colour in this small range, radiate with an electrifying intensity. Ann once mentioned it was like ‘painting with highlighter pens’ and, upon seeing the outcome, I think you can all agree!
For those of you that’ve met Ann, you’ll appreciate it when I say that ‘all she does is paint’.
Ann used just a few of the luminous paints around the Hare’s head. Too much here and you lose the delicacy of line & tone…
Only when we get into the body, did Ann feel able to let loose the paint to full-effect… It’s hard to convey here, just how rich and deep these tones are!
I love those HUGE back feet!
This is a good spot to show the transition in the background, as we move out of the energy of the hare, into a more tranquil turquoisey-aqua. Those rich purples of the feet contrast beautifully here, with movement suggested by those ‘action lines’.
It was back in 2019, that Ann last tackled something like this. Then we were into Covid and all that came in its wake…
Now, looking back on all that’s happened, she felt it was time to ‘go again’. Our focus remains on ‘The Carnival of Wonders’, but it feels comfortable – now – to look back from time-to-time…
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE NO LONGER SHOW ANN’S WILDLIFE WORK AT THE CORN HALL… TO SEE A PIECE IN-PERSON, PLEASE LET US KNOW & WE CAN ARRANGE SOMETHING FOR YOUR NEXT VISIT!
Amid the usual difficulties involved in launching a new collection (I’m looking at YOU, ‘Soup2Nuts’!), we both found solace in different ways… For me, it mostly involved Fruit Gums and biting my nails, but for Ann? Well, she found solace in revisiting the ‘Neon Hare’ theme. After one or two false-starts (mostly to reacquaint herself with those amazing paints), she persevered. The work that follows is the result!
In contrast to the first painting, which presented a hare running towards us, ‘Neon Hare #2’ introduces a side-view of a hare sprinting at full-chat…
Once again, Ann blends that explosive movement of the first Neon Hare, with the soulful tones of aqua and turquoise to superb effect.
So much energy here; almost looks like it’s sprinting out of the frame!
If Ann had kept the softer, more subdued colours for the hare’s head as before, it wouldn’t have looked right in this view, where we can see more of the animal.
Adopting its full profile, gives Ann more space to let the colours in; to have them better reflect the vibrancy of the whole image and, in so doing, make a more cohesive whole.
Particularly successful, are the broad stripes of colour – the so-called ‘action lines’ – that punctuate the scene and, as their name suggests, add a sense of dynamism – a feeling of momentum – to the whole.
Such a warm blend here, of loose, almost casual brushstrokes, blended with calculated action lines.
I hope you get a feel for the colour-depth of this paint? There’s a real glow coming through here…
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE NO LONGER SHOW ANN’S WILDLIFE WORK AT THE CORN HALL… TO SEE A PIECE IN-PERSON, PLEASE LET US KNOW & WE CAN ARRANGE SOMETHING FOR YOUR NEXT VISIT!
In creating ‘Neon Hare #3’, Ann decided to take a different approach, by infusing a sense of tranquility into the piece.
The hare, often depicted in motion, is now given a moment of solitude as it licks its shin; a nod to the importance of self-reflection. This concept isn’t entirely new; in fact, it echoes an earlier (and beloved) painting entitled ‘Washing the Hare’. That artwork portrayed a hare in a peaceful grooming session and juxtaposed a more energetic piece called ‘Touchdown!’.
However, the vibrant glow of these luminous paints typically inspires more dynamic imagery. Undeterred, Ann persevered to see where a calmer work would take her. The successful outcome is largely attributed to its circular composition. The implied motion lines are contained within the frame, suggesting a pause rather than continuous action. It’s as if the frame becomes a sanctuary for the hare, promoting calmness instead of amplifying motion.
‘Neon Hare #3’ is a deliberately thoughtful, meditative composition that uses its bold palette differently. Yes, those rich, vibrant colours are still there, but they’re now employed in a calm space. A moment of stillness amidst chaos…
Ann even managed to squeeze a little glimpse of the hare’s bright pink tongue as he’s licking his shin!
This whirl within the hare’s fur has been captured superbly, with just a delicate crown of what look to be petals; those midnight blues really do sit beautifully atop those fiery orangey-yellows…
For me, the highlight in this close-up, are those jags of warm-yellow coming off the back of the hare’s leg and puncturing its fluffy white tail. Against those deep blues & teals of the background, they really ‘pop!’…
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE NO LONGER SHOW ANN’S WILDLIFE WORK AT THE CORN HALL… TO SEE A PIECE IN-PERSON, PLEASE LET US KNOW & WE CAN ARRANGE SOMETHING FOR YOUR NEXT VISIT!
Moonshine
Ann’s most recent artwork, “Moonshine” marks a fascinating turning point in her creative trajectory. The persistent question concerning the feasibility of portraying a dynamic, lively subject such as a hare whilst using a restrained palette has always intrigued her.
It’s not merely about utilising limited colours but also infusing life into the subject. It’s hardly unprecedented: artists have been tackling this since we lived in caves, but this was Ann’s problem in the here-and-now.
As a result, ‘Moonshine’ represents a significant step in her artistic progression. It’s an intentional departure from the vibrant tones that have accompanied her for months and we’re thrilled for you to see it here for the first time.
In generating these room mock-ups, you occasionally find some colour combinations that just work…
Although using a restricted palette, Ann was able to imbue ‘Moonshine’ with a touch of colour in the hare’s eye; something she was keen to do; it just wouldn’t have been right without it…
This view also gives you a nice snapshot of the moon’s eery yellow glow; as we go through the painting, you’ll delight – as we do – over the highlights it’ll lend to the rest of the piece.
In this close-up of the hare’s legs, I hope you can see how some of those loose, fluid stabs of brushwork have carried over from the Neon Hares? The palette might be cut-down, but the energy is still here if you look for it!
A fine example of the white glaze used over the painting, to add a ghostly aura to the piece.
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE NO LONGER SHOW ANN’S WILDLIFE WORK AT THE CORN HALL… TO SEE A PIECE IN-PERSON, PLEASE LET US KNOW & WE CAN ARRANGE SOMETHING FOR YOUR NEXT VISIT!
We’ll be back at the Corn Hall, Cirencester EVERY weekend (Saturdays and Sundays) until July, 2024 (when we stop for Open Studios)…
Our stand at the Corn Hall might look impressive these days, but we still struggle for storage. That means we can’t bring everything you might want to see, to every show…
Neither Ann nor myself want to disappoint you, so if there’s anything you’d particularly like to see in-person, PLEASE get in-touch ahead of time and we’ll ensure it’s there!
Thanks for sticking this Newsletter out to the end; we hope that you’re delighted by these new pieces!
What’s next? Well, we’ve been building-up something of a backlog over these past few months, so the next one will be along sooner than you might think!
Your support has been immense over the few years we’ve been on this ride together; we couldn’t be doing this without your support.
As ever, we thank you.
