Framing Minefield

Things in life have been a bit busy lately. I have been working out how to best frame my work, experimenting with a few designs and colours. It’s amazing how much a frame can ruin a painting’s feel… or enhance it. I didn’t have frames in mind when I produced my degree show because frames are not allowed for undergrads. In a way I wish the university had provided more guidance on framing but after having framed some of my paintings, I can see why they chose not to mention them. Framing well is very difficult sometimes and from what I can see is it’s more susceptible to fashion changes than art itself.

Anodyne 2020 oil on canvas (framed). Available in Canfas, Cardigan.

After months of staying in Aberystwyth in lockdown Dot and I have finally been able to travel. We are visiting friends and family in North Wales and I am taking this opportunity to collect some much needed resources for an up coming exhibition. Having been glued to Aberystwyth for the last three years, yet still focussing in themes relating to my beginnings I thought it important to spend some time studying the area in more depth again. University has encouraged me in my painting endeavours, albeit not quite how I imagined. I feel more confident than ever to be able to work remotely by gathering as much information as possible, then spending the studio time bringing those ideas to life. I’m not absolutely sure what specific theme I will be working with but I know the area well and I am sure that a theme will present itself once I start looking!

Me and Dot sketching near Menai Bridge

Published by jonathanretallickart

Jonathan is an artist who specialises in oil painting. Based in the Aberystwyth area he draws most of his inspiration from the surrounding countryside.

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