Lynne Windsor Interview, Part Three

 two of Lynne's paintings, both oil, Los Luceros and Nuthatch with Clouds

L-From a mental standpoint how do you get ready to paint ? 

Lynne- Getting my mind ready is not a big thing. I gave up a lot when I moved here and doing art became so important to me and my survival, my solace. I didn't get back into it till I was 40 so I don't want to waste any precious time.   All I want to do is just paint. I easily put off anything else.....housework, business work, anything. My husband says I am like a terrier.
On another note I do need to get outside. I am itching to get back home and out to Scotland to paint.
I just love to paint, don't ask me to do anything else.

L-What do you listen to when you are in your studio?

Lynne- BBC Radio 4. It's what made being here easier. A little bit of the UK in New Mexico.

L-Tell us about your family.

Lynne- I have 3 grown children, Holly, Rosie and Ralph. They will be meeting me at the airport when I return to England. I miss them and I can't wait to see everyone. My Dad is there too. Last year I spent a long time with my him. He was very ill and needed my help. Now he is doing better. I think he will be coming with me on my  painting trip to Scotland.

L- What do you do for fun...besides painting?

Lynne- Besides paintings...hmmmm, I really like to go with good friends  and share a meal at a restaurant. I really do like cooking for others, although I really haven't had any time lately. I love having a few good friends over for a good English roast. I like being with friends. This year I took a RV trip to Utah. I went with 3 friends and my husband. That was fun. I also like to garden, when time allows.

L- And last, what advice would you give a fledgling artist?

Lynne- Look into yourself and try and understand what it is you want. How do you want your work to look? Know that answer.
Work, practice your art. Do not involve too many colors, use a limited palette.
Look at other people's work. If you like a certain color they have made try and mix it. Learn by doing.

One special note, Lynne is teaching a workshop in Scotland next September (2011). Be one of the lucky few to get a spot. Register NOW. I would be there if it weren't for my teaching commitments. Hopefully next time! The way Lynne describes the landscape, it is amazing and then of course you will be working with her and gathering tons of wisdom. If you go...let me know. I want to hear all about it.
Have a moment? Lynne just (moments ago) published a new website . Check it out!

PS Thanks you friends for all your encouraging emails and comments from yesterday's post. I appreciate all of your support!

Lynne Windsor interview, part two

Early Morning, below Gordes 12x24 oil by Lynne Windsor

Lynne's interview continues:

L-What inspires you to paint?

Lynne- Honestly, I just love painting! I love everything about painting. I feel as if I was deprived for a long time now I am allowed to do it. I have so much to do. I wish I could clone myself!

L- How do you keep motivated when it gets tough in the studio?

Lynne- Well, I pace. I get up and go to the garden and pull weeds. Sometimes I take a break and get something to eat. Sometimes, I give up...when it's not working I just stop. I give myself migranes when I continue the battle.

L- What is your daily routine?

Lynne- I am up and working in the studio by 10:00. If I am not I start feeling anxious, sort of edgy. I need to be there. I paint till lunch time. A few days a week I go play tennis with my good friend Sue, another English woman. It's mad English women in the noon day sun! Exercise is so good for the brain. I try to make time to do some each day. After lunch/tennis I am back to work in the studio.

L- People admire your ability to create  the mood of the landscape, a special place, very dreamy. Would you summarize how you do this both from a technical standpoint and a mental standpoint?

Lynne- When I paint I always start out with an underpainting of burnt sienna. I like the warmth it provides. Next I add the dark/shadows. Now the push and pull begins. I work mostly with opaque paint in the beginning. I am not a painter to intentionally use the same color in all different parts of the canvas.
I do keep the entire painting soft. I will actually fuzz it and blend so that not hard lines exist. I use glazes to gray down the distance and warm up the foreground.
Each painting has a "mother color." And I find burnt sienna to be very helpful tool to "kill the brightness."
My palette is somewhat traditional- cobalt blue, cerelean blue, ultramarine blue, burnt sienna, cad yellow deep, cad red light, cad yellow light, white and two new favorites: garnet red (Lefranc) and Williamsburg's permanent crimson. I also use the transparents: indian yellow and transparent brown oxide.

Lynne painting in her studio in New Mexico
You may look forward to -getting ready mentally and more in Wednesday's blog post.  In the meantime check out Lynne's website and blog. You are in for a treat!

Interview with Lynne Windsor

winding river, tweed valley, by Lynne Windsor

Was I ever lucky when Lynne Windsor agreed to speak with me!  Her work is amazing as you can see from the photo above. Dreamy.... you wish the landscape really was that way. If you haven't seen her website or blog  click here and feast your eyes!
This was a phone interview as  Lynne lives in New Mexico and travels often and for long periods to her homeland England. When she answered the phone it was as if we were picking up a conversation that had ended abruptly moments before. She was warm and gracious, sharing stories and technique. I felt as if I made a new friend!

She was reeling from etching day and packing to get ready to leave for a 5 month visit back home to England, where her father and her adult children still live.  Etching was something she did long ago, but when moving to New Mexico Lynne found an oasis in the Santa Fe Etching group,  lead by  Eli Levin, a brilliant etcher. When I asked she said she wasn't quite sure how it feeds her painting, but it was definitely a way for her to draw more. After chatting for awhile we began the interview.

L-Please tell us  little about your connection to the UK.

Lynne- I am from the east coast of Great Britain, an area called "the wash." The landscape is flat with drained marshes. Not too far from home there is a softness in the distance. rolling hills, color, light.  I am still very connected to my home as my 3 grown children, my father and many friends are there. The landscape inspires me. I can't wait to get back there. I will definitely travel to Scotland, where a very close friend of mine lives. I consider it a second home...and I adore the landscape!.

L- Why are you an artist?

Lynne- It goes back my influence from an early teacher. I was enthused with drama and came to the States on an exchange program to train  in drama. I was only 15 and was staying with a family. One day I drew one of the children and the host mom liked it so much exclaimed "you should be an artist." Well, I had never thought that I was good enough, but that made me think. Upon returning my art teacher was so encouraging. From there I went to Art College. Life got in the way for awhile, now I feel like I have no time to waste. I have so much to do so I work all the time.

L-Please talk about your study.

Lynne- Michael Workman changed my life. When I was in England I was mainly a figurative painter. First I met Barry(her husband of 17 years and a landscape painter) and he influenced me. I painted the landscape in his style. But I felt queasy, it wasn't me. Next I was fortunate to attend a Michael Workman workshop at the Fredericksburg Art School.. His work made me stop. The muted colors, pure beauty. I was changed. Something had happened. I have learned more about myself since then. Pushing myself. When I am struggling I still look at his work. It gives me confidence.

Which artists do you admire, past or present?

Sherri McGraw (figurative), Stuart Shils(more abstract), Turner-his later works, Whistler's nocturnes, Daumier, George Inness. Honestly I love all painting. I wish i could clone myself. I want it all. I feel like I was deprived for so long and now I am finally allowed to do it.

More next time...... technique, routine etc.

more underpaintings and Lynne Windsor

both are 9x12 oil on gesso with marble dust on gatorboard
Here are the  two new underpaintings I have been working on this week. The light will be sunset and early evening twilight. I added more white and transparent earth yellow in the bottom one as an experiment. We will see.
You are probably wondering why I add marble dust to a ground for oil painting. The truth is the first time I did it, it was by accident. I was in a frenzy. Idea filled and excited, I picked up what I thought was a smooth gessoed panel. I began painting and realized I like a little bit of drag/texture. Oooooh I like this. And so goes the story!
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On another note: you are in for a real treat as tomorrow I will post the first installment from my interview with Lynne Windsor. Last Friday afternoon I had a wonderful phone conversation with Lynne. I have admired her work for a very long time and was delighted when she agreed to talk.
I must admit it takes me awhile to organize and type up an interview, so I do it in slices. While you wait, take a moment to check out Lynne's GORGEOUS work- website and Blog.