H A R R I S O N L O R D
C O N T E M P O R A R Y A R T G A L L E R Y
W E S T Y O R K S H I R E
Yvonne Oates
My early paintings were mostly watercolours - landscapes and still-lifes, often inspired by the moody light of the Peak District or Lake District. I have always loved the flow and vibrancy of water media, but gradually I began to experiment with other media – pastels, acrylics and oils and eventually to combine media within a painting to achieve the effect I was looking for. I have no formal training in art, but the past 20 years or so have been, for me, a kind of foundation course. I have tried many different types of mediums and have gradually moved away from painting in a realistic style to being more interpretive.
I began to combine water media with collaged “Washi” (Japanese hand-made papers) and relished the combination of colour and texture. I let myself go and give myself permission to “play”. From there, I became fascinated by collage and naturally progressed to printmaking with collagraphs.
This love of texture led me to experiment with collage and modelling mediums on canvas. Often I have several pieces of work in progress and come back to a painting many times to scrub, layer or add different media until I am happy that it conveys the emotional involvement I feel for a subject.
People often ask me where I get the ideas from for my Hill Sheep paintings. The answer is - “all around me”. Sheep are not the brightest of creatures and they manage to get themselves in the strangest places. My experimental approach often leads me in unexpected directions, but my art is always a synthesis of my emotional response to the initial subject - be it colour, shape or atmosphere - and my materials and techniques. There is no stopping point because there is always some wonderful area of vibrant colour or texture in a painting that suggests a new avenue to explore.
Yvonne Oates is debuting her work at the Harrison Lord Gallery on 3rd March as part of our
‘Fresh Faces’ exhibition
Boys Will be Boys - £275
I have a Cunning Plan - £600
I'll bet he Doesn't - £275
Youth is Wasted on the Young - £625
You're late Again - £400