Plein-Air Painting, Artwork & Holidays in the Alentejo

Beginning with the start of the day, when the spirit is pure. Sounds, smells and vision play a big part in the “mood” and my art.

Waking in the morning to the delightful twittering of the birds, or even a rainbow on a wet spring morning, the “mood” is there. Setting up my easel and pallete, mixing my paints, brush to canvas, I begin my day. Soft music or the sounds of the morning, as my brush touches the canvas. With every stroke I find happiness and joy for the day and drift of into my own world.

That’s what art is all about. It's inspiring and powerful.

My first introduction to any form of art, was through my mother. I fell in love with the feel of the wax crayons and their smell at an early age. Mixing the paint colours into the water and spreading it across the paper, such satisfaction.

During the early years of my marriage, I trained as a nursery school teacher, attending many workshops.

I noted that when a child came to school a little sad, unhappy or in the middle of domestic problems, as soon as it was art time, and once they had a brush in their hands they were transformed into happy little bunnies and loved their art days.

I then decided that we would have art every day as part of our curriculum. This lead to my teaching of children with special needs.

Through art forms and expression in art the children achieved so much and jumped ahead leaps and bounds.

In the early 70’s I attended weekly pottery classes at Maritzka’ art studio out in the country. I lived 30 miles from the city of Durban, Natal, South Africa. The feel of the clay and producing my own pieces was a fascinating experience.

Moving from Durban with my family in 1980 I came to live in Portugal.

In association with the Portuguese Porcelain Painters, I had my first taste of “china painting” or porcelain painting. Again, a most fascinating method and one that I like to keep up and

add now and again a plate or two to my collection.

Our country farm here in Portugal became a painting haven for me.

Being used to mixing oils and paint powders with special oils from Brazil and working with paints for so many years. I was able to use my own method of applying oil to canvas. I achieved surprising results and continue to do so always.

Painting soley in oils, I like the texture and the pliability of it. It's ever moving and flowing. One can mold and fantasise easily with oil. Also doesn’t dry so quickly, enabling us to play and experiment.

Experimenting with oil paints is such great satisfaction.

Self taught, I like to use direct bright vibrant colour, very much part of the “mood”.

If I don’t get it right the first time or I don’t like it, not to worry, I start again.

It's always best to start with a small canvas and something simple to be able to understand it all. As we progress and grow, we begin to form our own unique style and form of art.

I have attended workshops in the south of france and England. I paint with artists from the Portuguese artists association, in Lisbon and the Algarve. I have exhibited some of my own work and am always working on my next project.