Mary Knowland
Mary is privileged to come from a family where art was a pivotal force. Her father, the artist Dennis Knowland, taught her a great deal, spending time painting together when Mary was a child. Family holidays were spent in Walberswick, Suffolk, in the company of artists such as Christopher Pinsent and Patrick George.
But initially Mary chose ceramics as her profession having spent a year with renowned ceramicist Robin Welch at his studio and then potters such as Mick Casson and Wally Keeler at Harrow School of Art.
Having inherited a pared down aesthetic sense this became apparent in the drawn and painted work she eventually returned to. Mary’s current work takes a more Zen approach to making work, i.e not looking at the work in progress, only at the subject matter or sometimes simply with her eyes closed letting the hand brain coordination take over. This allows her to feel where she is on the paper, so becoming more aware of position and the presence of the forms she is painting. This results in a pure essence rather than a slavish representation of the subject. The more complex works do require looking for the layered background areas, thus providing a contrast to the freedom of line and brushwork in the subject.
But initially Mary chose ceramics as her profession having spent a year with renowned ceramicist Robin Welch at his studio and then potters such as Mick Casson and Wally Keeler at Harrow School of Art.
Having inherited a pared down aesthetic sense this became apparent in the drawn and painted work she eventually returned to. Mary’s current work takes a more Zen approach to making work, i.e not looking at the work in progress, only at the subject matter or sometimes simply with her eyes closed letting the hand brain coordination take over. This allows her to feel where she is on the paper, so becoming more aware of position and the presence of the forms she is painting. This results in a pure essence rather than a slavish representation of the subject. The more complex works do require looking for the layered background areas, thus providing a contrast to the freedom of line and brushwork in the subject.
Guitar, vase, orange
Watercolour on paper
38 x 28cm
Signed 2017
POA
Watercolour on paper
38 x 28cm
Signed 2017
POA
Wine, plate, lemon, melon
Watercolour on paper
27 x 38cm
Signed 2017
POA
Watercolour on paper
27 x 38cm
Signed 2017
POA
Bottle, plate, lemon, orange
Watercolour on paper
38 x 28cm
Signed 2017
POA
Watercolour on paper
38 x 28cm
Signed 2017
POA
Flagon, wine
Watercolour on paper
27 x 38cm
Signed 2017
POA
Watercolour on paper
27 x 38cm
Signed 2017
POA
Construction 1
Mixed media
30 x 22cm approx.
POA
Mixed media
30 x 22cm approx.
POA