Through the Eyes of... Lizzie Black

THROUGH THE EYES OF...

Lizzie Black

A landscape artist based in west Cornwall, Lizzie Black’s methods focus deeply on the practice of en plein air as she strives to capture the light, colour, tide and time in some of Cornwall’s most captivating and scenic locations. Absorbing each place in her own, unique style, Lizzie looks to project the experience and essence of a place onto canvas.

Firstly, tell us about one of your chosen locations to paint and why it inspires you... Portloe on the Roseland Peninsula. I love Portloe as a place and plein air location. There is so much to paint and enjoy in this pretty little harbour and village. Beyond the cove there are some of the most unspoilt and impressive stretches of the Cornish coast path. It is always peaceful and quiet even in the height of summer.

When painting your location, is there anything that really catches your eye that you enjoy focusing on? From the village you quickly rise to the surrounding steep paths that wrap around the coziness of the cove giving you a multitude of views and wonderful options to paint from. The sea is a magical turquoise colour that invites passers-by in for a dip, occasionally myself. There are also a few colourful fishing boats with their buoys that catch the light like jewels amongst dark shadows. The contrasts between these details and the vastness of the cliffs is a joy.

Describe the sounds, smells and feelings you experience in your location... It always feels lucky to be able to spend the day in Portloe and I feel fortunate to have the resources and time to spend my days painting and visiting such beautiful places. I have to pinch myself sometimes that this is my work! I would happily paint plein air everyday. It is a real passion for me to paint directly from my subject. It feels far away from everything, which is very nice especially at the moment.

What colours do you like to use when painting your location? Portloe faces South and in the summer it has the sun and light for most of the day. Out of season the steep cliffs and hills that surround Portloe envelope the cove in deep shadows. It is therefore very dramatic to paint with its deep tones and contrasting light. I enjoy painting the cool shadows and bright white-washed cottages that rise out of the valley. I have a quiet and earthy artist's palette but love to add dashes of color that draw the eye in.

When painting/practicing ‘en plein air’, what do you think about and what are your processes when painting this way? When I arrive in a painting location I have to figure out where to go and obviously am drawn to sheltered spots in the sun or sometimes out of the sun and out of the wind. I often struggle between this and getting the best painting views and personal comfort. I mostly opt for the best view and endure the discomfort. Always arrive prepared for any weather: woolly hats, sunhats, sun cream, scarves, gloves, raincoats, whatever I can carry. Once set up I spend a little time soaking up the view and choosing a frame.

When I paint plein air I am totally absorbed in the activity. I concentrate wholly on looking, observing, making colours and describing shape and form with brushstrokes. I sometimes review how things are progressing and ask myself. What do I want to achieve? What do I want to say? I wait for a magic moment with the light half way through the work and attempt to capture that in my final piece. This might be when a boat appears on the horizon or when the sun has created a pattern of shadows that is particularly interesting or when the sea has risen to a certain level. What challenges do you face when conveying your location onto canvas? I sometimes have a plan of what I will paint and where I will go. However it is always surprising how I don’t always follow this up. This is one of the delights of plein air painting. It is full of unexpected surprises and sometimes misfortunes. You have to be prepared to fail and from the errors you grow and learn.

In my home of Mousehole I am familiar with the layout of the village, the weather, the light and the cycle of life. By revisiting Portloe, I have a growing awareness of the rhythms of the days and seasons in a similar manner. Portloe is unique and beautiful.

Finally, what do you love most about your location? The best thing about Portloe is that it never fails to charm you. It also has a very nice restaurant and after picking up a croissant from Da Bara Bakery you can break off mid morning and enjoy a nice coffee from The Lugger on the bench at the top of the slipway. Fuel for creativity! l You can discover more of Lizzie Black’s work in the charming space of The New Gallery at Portscatho and online at www.thenewgalleryportscatho.co.uk

The New Gallery Portscatho, Cornwall, TR2 5HW T: 01872 580719 Email: chrisinsoll@gmail.com

Opening times Thursday to Saturday, 10am – 12.30pm, 2 – 5pm