Feature of Landscape1 by Clare Thatcher

The concept of painted landscape representing human emotions is intensely appealing to me. Stormy skies, wind-lashed fields and scenes verging on abstraction can all evoke a state of mind.

It’s a school of thought artist Clare Thatcher is fully enrolled in with her dark, contemplative layers of oil paint applied to linen or plywood.

“I’m a Contemporary British artist based in Bristol with a passion for painting,” Clare says. “I attended University of West of England from 2011 till 2014 graduating with a First Class BA Honours Degree in Drawing & Applied Arts, and then gained a MA Fine Art at Bath Spa University. Since graduating I’ve exhibited in London, Belgium, Nottingham, Bristol & Bath.”

It’s the psychological impression of a setting that she aims to capture in her paintings. “My work is deeply connected with a sense of place, taking influence from the idea of liminal space in landscape,” she says. “The locations I choose and the focus of my attention is highly selective, personal and resonant of individual landscape features and associated thoughts, emotions and reflections. The emphasis is upon the sense of contemplation within place.”

Natural Form 4 by Clare Thatcher

Clare explains that her work aims to “reference transition and consequences of perpetual flux within my oil paintings.”

This means that an exact representation of a scene is far less important that the moods it evokes in the viewer. “My search for the exact colour and sensation of place remains central to the development of my practice,” she says. “I see myself as an organic painter, enjoying the stuff of paint made from –pigment – where surface and colour has become so important to my practice.”

Clare begins a new work of art through drawing, although she see paint as her main medium. “I am a painter who uses drawing as a primary means of expression,” she says. “Drawing underpins my practice. It’s the way I approach a subject, and acts as a direct response, a key element for unlocking ideas. It’s a way and means to translate thought into a visual – spilling my thoughts out onto the page.”

Working in series helps Clare to explore ideas fully, and “to expand the conversation. When translated or transposed from my drawings onto the painted surface, my works take on a personality of their own.”

She describes this process as “a non-verbal approach” to examining the responses of all her senses when in a particular landscape.

Feature of Landscape 3 by Clare Thatcher

Working as an artist is a constantly evolving experience for Clare.

“Being an artist has opened my eyes seeing the world differently changing me as a person,” she says. “It’s rewarding, exciting, exhilarating, interesting and challenging. I meet lots of really interesting people, and I enjoy the freedom to express myself.”

Clare is exhibiting at RWA’s 165th Annual Open Exhibition on until 3rd December 2017. See more of her work at www.clarethatcher.org.

Are you an artist or do you know an artist who would like to be showcased on SkyLightRain.com? Get in touch at judydarley (at) iCloud.com.