Artist Lynne on how cancer altered work
Liberation: An Exploration of Colour & Texture offers an exhibition from Lynne Woods at Chichester’s Oxmarket Gallery until October 31.
Lynne said: “I am an intuitive artist taking my inspiration from nature.
“This body of work began in 2020 during the Covid lockdown. Before this, I had produced drawings – large drawings – mainly using pencil and charcoal, very detailed and representational although with a surrealist twist.
“I held my debut solo exhibition The Voice Within at The Lansdown Gallery in Stroud, Gloucestershire in March 2018. Unfortunately just after this, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The treatment of cancer is all consuming and I lost all my creativity juices until the treatment finished when thankfully they all returned.
“Cancer is life-changing. It does, however, have its positive side. I am a much stronger person as a result, far more confident and I now do things that are important to me. It has also changed my artwork. It made me rethink how I wanted to work. The first major change waswantingtousecolouranduse a different medium so I began to experiment with acrylic-based media. I felt a need to be more expressive and not so literal and simply let the paint and the tools – it’s not all about brushes – do the work which leads to a more abstract element.
“As I work intuitively, I don’t necessarily have a plan when I go to my studio. At the moment, I usually begin by choosing a limited palette, maybe just two or three colours plus black and white and see where it goes.
“Sometimes I add some collage much of which I create myself. It just adds another dimension. Layers are important for depth whether it be paint or paper. The resulting work is very diverse ranging from recognisable land/ seascapes to more abstract/ expressive work.
“The basis of all the paintings comes from nature. I live in the Cotswolds which is full of inspiration and I often go out and explore with my camera andmorerecentlyasketchbook. I love the colours of beautiful flowers and stunning sunsets but I also love the moody, threatening skies and woodlands. Although I have always had an interest in art I did not really explore my own creative abilities until my daughters were beginning to leave home. I had been a fulltime mum and housewife and to be honest felt I had lost my identity a little so I decided to do something for myself.”