Ocean rhythms that speak to the soul

The seascapes of Sarah Woods are inspired by local panoramas, writes

While the 19th century American novelist Kate Chopin reckoned that “The voice of the sea speaks to the soul”, it’s surely fair to say that, for the present day, it not only speaks but shouts for the soul of Newlyn-based painter and printmaker Sarah Woods.

One for whom being beside the sea is special, she says: “I think there’s something considered and gentle about living and working beside the ocean, it feeds into your every day and somehow shapes you. It instils an understanding of ebbs and flows.”

An artist who studied at Falmouth University where she gained a BA (Hons) degree in fine art, and has since exhibited at various venues in Cornwall, fresh from a successful solo show at the New Gallery, St Ives, she is now presenting a collection of her etchings in the Picture Room of Newlyn Art Gallery. Talking of which, as she points out, it features studies she has made from the coast surrounding her Trewarveneth studio in Newlyn.

“I’ve focused on simple forms and the balance of being beside the water. To me, this space is grounding and immediate. The process of each print is slowly worked by hand, with mark making and movements and the time it takes bringing focus and calm.” Reflecting this, her etchings are inspired by the beginning and end times of day, the first and last light by the sea, and remind one that, whatever happens, the tide will always rise and fall. She adds: “The rhythm of the ocean brings a chance to re-set, which has helped in the production of this collection of coastline etchings that I’ve printed in limited editions in my studio.”

An artist for whom the key processes in her interpretations of the local land and seascape are perception, reception and response, whether painting or printing, she often reverses her use of materials, and questions the order of their application, all of which encourages and extends her thoughtful and methodical approach.

The hand-made nature of all that she creates is of prime importance to her. She mixes her colour and applies her paint slowly and intimately, which emphasises the fact that her paintings and prints are made in much the same way as her surroundings have been made throughout the ages. Although she has described her works as being “minimal observations”, with the help of the simple marks she makes her etchings create the impression of the soft motion of water against the land, and the impact they make on the viewer is maximum. All made on Somerset Satin paper and in limited editions, she presents them in three sections; small, medium and large, and they are as satisfying as they are seemingly simple.

Visit The Picture Room, Newlyn Art Gallery, 10-5pm Tuesday-Saturday – Tuesday 10-12noon quiet time visit – until October 30.

Along Cot Valley to Sennen by Sarah Woods