I am often asked where the colour comes from in my work? Perhaps I’m just a bit mad, or hopefully because I am inspired by ‘The Fauve’ Artists and post-impressionists, plus use a very limited pallet, omitting black. I am not seeking realistic tonal painting but a non-abstract, fun, energetic, celebration of the colours and painting process. The colours are not random but enhanced from what I see, using colour temperature to add depth. That’s quite technical so the fun part is that I work quickly using both hands, all over the canvas creating movement and energy as I build the paint up. I love the freshness of paint, especially when wet and up close. Watercolours are fun until they dry then it frustrates me. I recommend always getting right up close to view the paintings like the artist was to become engulfed in them, you can imagine the excitement of certain marks or colours as small areas within the overall compositions.
The non-abstract subjects reflect my life, places that I have experienced and taken the images so understand the smell, atmosphere and whole scenario. Subject matter formerly followed my daughter’s life including pets, dogs, farms, zoos, historical buildings, up until now where roles are reversed and I am more recently learning from her art degree, focussing on styles of different artists, becoming more experimental and contemporary. It is very special for me to be exhibiting alongside my 21 yr old daughter Gio Botto who 20 years ago, she was crawling around the floor of a shared gallery during Artweeks, then aged 2 she did her first acrylic on canvas during my Artweeks exhibition at Braziers Park in Ipsen, and now Artweeks together.
Late to the party, our venue is in Didcot. The once dark, dingy, oil smelling garage was transformed into our studio, a light and happy little place to be, filled with laughter, music, singing and dogs (I am a dog agility trainer). In the holidays it becomes a shared studio again, as it will for the exhibition, with the added excitement of a marquee extension, aiming to include as much as we can to give visitors an insight into our World. Life drawing is very important to both of us and sketchbooks and drawings will be there to snoop through, along with postcards and prints of selected works.
I am fortunate to not be frightened of painting or drawing anything, as long as it excites me. It was once said that I do not need to travel abroad as my work is always full of light, energy and exciting use of colour whatever the subject matter or place, from the Italian Liguria, Portofino, Cinque Terre, Venice, Sicilian Scenes, Oxford Spires and rooftops to Blewbury, The Ridgeway or Didcot Great Western Park,( recent paintings of Didcot were thought to be abroad), pigs, dogs, still lives, sunflowers and poppies. Tearing off the polythene of a new canvas I just can’t wait to get started to see where the enjoyment of the paint journey process takes me…
Both aim to be painting throughout so come and watch us in action or even have a go on mine!