Viridian: New paintings

Abstract

Viridian: A collection of new paintings I have been working on these paintings since early 2019 following on from my previous solo show Blue Moon. Since then I have been playing around with all that is green; hence the title Viridian. As a colourist, I would never force colour into a box, I let colour lead me to where it wants to go, and though I start out planning to define it, it inevitably slips away from my grasp and remains elusive, continually morphing and changing the rules of engagement. I have tried to explore what I feel about this very fundamental and elemental of all colours, green. I have mixed strong grass greens to weave into my gardenscapes, mixed hints of it into thick opaque whites to use as backgrounds for vibrant arrangements of yellow, pink and orange flowers that I gathered from my garden, and blended green with a cocktail of pigments to create Chinoiserie-inspired fabrics and dresses that adorn my figures. This makes them luminesce when contrasted with the rich plums and magentas of the surrounding textures and forms. I have used viridian in my compositions, working it with the warm copper and brass tones of the metal bowls and trays in my tablescapes and still lifes, and finally used it pure and unmixed for my dark shadows and leafy woodland scenes to enhance the feeling of the cool shade of a forest floor. Thank you for joining me on my journey and celebration of colour, texture and everything that is paint. I hope I have done it justice, because that is all I ever set out to achieve. Lucy Doyle (www.lucydoyle.com)