Water Lilies and Why I Paint

Water Lilies, 36" x 36", oil on canvas

There are lots of reasons why I paint.

I paint because I have an overwhelming desire to create; to have a sense of creative discovery is deeply satisfying. Every painting is a new adventure... 

I paint because it's fun. Making art is sometimes just pure, playful fun! And that's healthy...

And therapeutic. When I'm painting, time disappears and I can let go of all the noise of the outside world. I'm in my world now... I never feel depleted after a full days work in the studio.

I paint because I'm very visual and constantly noticing the colours and shapes in the world around me... And I want to express what I see and experience.

I painted Water Lilies purely as an expression of the beauty and tranquility of one of my favourite places... a little pond in the woods in Norway where all you hear are the birds singing and the wind whistling through the trees... 

Beauty makes my heart sing.

And sometimes, all I want to do is paint a pretty picture.

Laying Down the Foundation - Water Lilies

I've been wanting to paint water lilies for a long time. One of my favourite spots is a peaceful little pond in the woods covered by lily pads and blossoming flowers. I've taken so many pictures of this beautiful and tranquil spot, and so finally I'm making it into a painting...

As always, I first draw the image onto the canvas. This is my map where I work out the details. Then I do a quick tonal study in grey tones... This is the underpainting and provides the foundation for the layers of colour to come. At this stage of the painting, the shapes, lines and tones are creating the mood and personality of the painting. With each stage of the painting, the process becomes more and more intuitive, until I feel as if the painting is almost painting itself...