Louise Sheridan
'Louise Sheridan talks of fragments of a visual diary but these are fragments which have simmered and matured and found their place in a kaleidoscope of memories. These are paintings rich in their colour and darknesses, and resonant with the accumulations of time.' Michael Harrison, Director, Kettle's Yard, 1992-2011
LANDSCAPES, BOTH REAL AND IMAGINARY AND MEMORIES OF TRAVEL MIX WITH PERSONAL STORIES, HUMOUR AND EXPLORATIONS OF LIFE AND DEATH IN MY WORK.
Organic forms transform and evolve within nature; the earth changes and wild weather results in floods and chaos. The power of water, the rise and fall of tides, the depth and strength of the currents and the changing light, colour and atmosphere all fascinate me.
I have lived by the River Thames in London for most of my life, often walking along the foreshore which reveals half hidden mysterious objects and structures that hint at layers of history. My grandfather was Japanese and that cultural influence can seen in some paintings.
Paintings were completed after travels to South East Asia, China, Iceland, Cuba and Costa Rica. The environment, images and colours I experienced on a five month trip to India and Nepal had a profound effect on my early work. I continue to use the Nepalese textured and translucent hand made paper that I first discovered in the Himalayas.
Working with intuition, I build up the paint layers, sometimes drawing into the images with oil pastels and pencil. Drawing is an important part of my practice. Depending on my mood, I make large, expressive charcoal drawings through to tiny, intense ink scribbles. Working with freedom and energy, ideas flow from the marks.
I completed a B.A. Hons. in Fine Art, Painting at Kingston University and a Post-Graduate Course in Painting in Cyprus, assembling drawings and painted textiles within installations. Later I lived in Barcelona for a year gaining an M.A. in European Fine Art, Painting, at the Winchester School of Art, where I had time both to explore the city and experiment with different techniques. It was during this time that the wax reliefs and mixed media pieces began to emerge.
I regularly exhibit and have completed commissions in the UK and India. I run art workshops for special needs groups, most recently in a secure forensic mental health hospital and volunteer at Action Space studio supporting learning disabled artists.
Please view my website and Instagram profile to see available work.
