From Stone to Sky
My own emotions and those that I perceive in others inspire and embody my art. Nature also lends a hand in providing stimulating subject matter… rocks embedded with ancient life forms and the features and shapes of natural stone give rise to the colours and textures reflected in my paintings. Working from within, I re-create those images and emotions in an abstract or semi-figurative way in watercolour or oil or as mixed media.
Born in London, England, I settled in America in the seventies and spent fifteen years working in graphic design and illustration, providing imagery for books and periodicals. Since that time I have dedicated myself fully to painting, producing works that have been exhibited in galleries and exhibitions across Europe and the Americas.
Of my two main painting media, watercolour and oil, the former comes much more naturally to me and is therapeutic in a way – calming even – whereas oil can be the opposite, despite the fact that it is a more “forgiving” medium. Oil painting is sometimes a struggle for me, a frenetic workout, but when I finally reach a satisfactory completion I feel a terrific accomplishment. Vive la difference!
My greatest source of satisfaction however is the knowledge that many of my paintings hang in homes where they may bring joy or peace or inspire imagination and contemplation. Because my art is generally abstract or loosely figurative, I am intrigued by viewers’ reactions to my work… their curiosity about where the images come from and what they mean. I, in turn, am keen on discovering how others might interpret a particular piece. It motivates an enjoyably mutual exchange.
I currently divide my time between California and the south of France, creating new work in each of these very different cultures.
Isobel George 