Mary Ann Lord

I have been painting for over ten years experimenting and learning about what it is that draws me to this way of life. It’s not an easy journey and I have learnt a lot from taking courses with artists whose work I admire including Lewis Noble, Louise Fletcher and Nicholas Wilton. The common theme I draw from all these artists is an approach that is non prescriptive and that allows intuition to help shape my art. I work primarily with acrylic and mixed media as well as some watercolour. I work instinctively moving in the direction the work takes me but with a mind to the things that I draw inspiration from. This ranges from the smallest things in nature - a frozen seed head, limpits on a rock, shells on a beach, a rusty door, moss on a broken tree as well as wide open and empty landscapes - mountains covered in snow, wild seas, miles of desert sands. It is the colour and textures of these places and things that gives me energy to paint. I can feel a sense of tranquility and peace that is difficult to find in the everyday noise that surrounds us most of the time. I prefer to work on boards that allow for sanding back and scraping to reveal layers and history although also work on paper and sometimes canvas. My work is evolving as I explore directions that interest me.