Life, Line and Movement - drawing and painting on the spot, and experimental printmaking!
Wednesday 11 September – Thursday 31 October 2019
ARTIST: Tom Marshall
I grew up in Gloucestershire, developed a love of drawing everything- portraits, wildlife, botanical art, landscapes, etc; studied Fine Art in Falmouth- and then stopped. I didn't have the confidence to work in art, so I worked in a hospital, a kitchen in a Christian community, in a special needs school, in the back of a Boots store taking hair-dryers off pallets and putting them on shelves. I taught English as a foreign language for 8+ years but left unable to continue as a single dad. In 2013, after 9 months on Income Support working through stress, depression, and exhaustion, I went self-employed as an artist. I had no experience of working in art, almost no contacts; no idea how to mount or frame a picture, run a website or enter an exhibition. I was out of practice with a lot to learn.
Right from the start, I knew 2 things- firstly, that- after years of working indoors, I wanted to work outside. Secondly, that I wanted to do printmaking, and see how I could manage without a press or a studio- just a kitchen table.
This has formed the pattern for my work- I go out with materials in my rucksack, and draw and paint in all weathers-( in recent years I've worked outdoors in falling snow, hail, rain, freezing rain and high winds, as well as blazing sunshine). I like to draw into the wet paint, the pigment running into the pencil's score-marks, colouring them, and creating a line rather like in an etching. It's fun to try new things- using chalk pastels on wet paper, mixing unlikely media, etc. I draw and paint simultaneously- I love depicting people, birds and dogs- and I will stop the scene to draw a new character as they move across my view, working on background and foreground at the same time. I've always loved the challenge of drawing a fast-moving scene on the spot, and won one of the top prizes at this year's Pintar Rapido “plein air” painting event in London. I've had 2 pictures selected for Draw19, a drawing exhibition in Southwark this October, and in recent years have had work selected for various open exhibitions. It feels like I'm getting somewhere.
My printmaking includes woodcuts and monoprints. I enjoying experimenting in a low-tech way, and my recent work has included printing dry-points made by scratching into wood; and learning to print with dry materials instead of the usual ink. I try to take advantage of not having a press, and it's surprising what you can do without one! I like to make each print in a series an individual painting, rather than making them identical. Please note: All framed and mounted works are originals- only the cards are reproductions.
Thank you in advance for visiting and I hope that you enjoy the show.
Please feel free to get in touch - I am happy to share ideas about techniques, etc. You are very welcome to follow my work on Facebook and Instagram.