Each month a different King Street Gallery artist is featured in our Spotlight Room. Throughout April artist Ann Goodfellow will be showing her work. We caught up with Ann to find out more about her approach to creating fine art…



How would you summarise your approach as an artist?
 
Through my work I endeavour to demonstrate an originality and sensitivity towards my subject matter.  Whether it is the landscape, aspects of my environment or the figure, I always strive to find new ways of communicating with the viewer.
 
When and where do you like to work?
 
I work most days from my studio at home, usually beginning at midday and working through until early evening.  I am not particularly creative in the early morning so therefore try to complete the more mundane tasks such as admin or research during this time. One day a week I focus on drawing and try to join my life drawing group to work from the model. This observational drawing is essential to my practice and underpins my figurative sculptural work by providing fresh inspiration and anatomical detail.
 
What are your favourite materials/tools?
  
I originally trained in painting, drawing and printmaking, gaining a Diploma in Wildlife Illustration in the 1980s. Throughout this period my preference was for the drier materials such as pastel, charcoal and pencils which provided me with the sensitive mark making that I was striving to achieve. My later training at B.A. and M.A. level in Ceramics saw a continuation of this sensitive approach through the surface treatment of my sculpture. The main focus of my work now is based around the figure, and especially the female form. I use a variety of clays such as porcelain, earthstone, craft crank and the black stoneware clay that is currently available. The surface treatment is usually vitreous slips and oxides, with glaze very rarely used. For my works on paper my preferred materials are coloured pencil, charcoal, pastel and conté.
 
Who is your favourite artist and why?
 
This is a very difficult question as my artistic career has had a huge number of influences. However, the main artists who have impacted on my thought processes and practical application would be Alberto Giacometti, Amedeo Modigliani, Anselm Kiefer, Henry Moore and Frank Auerbach.  I have selected mainly painters as I am fascinated by the brushstrokes and marks made on the surface of the canvas. In the case of Giacometti and Moore, again it is the drawing rather than the sculpture that holds my attention. In fact I made this the focus of my M.A. research and dissertation.
 
What is the most memorable exhibition you have been to?
 
Again it is hard to select one exhibition, but a few weeks ago I visited the Reina Sofia Gallery in Madrid and was very privileged to see Picasso’s Guernica which is a hugely significant painting, both in terms of Spanish history and art history.
 
What makes you happiest?
 
The main things that bring me happiness are making memories.  

Ann Goodfellow’s Spotlight Show runs in the Spotlight Room throughout April. Ann will also be showing paintings, drawings and ceramics at the Contemporary Art Fair, Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading from 20th April to 22nd April – find Ann at stand no 48.

Click here to find out more about Ann Goodfellow’s work.

Patricia McParlin is an award-winning British artist who lives and works in Wales. Her stunning new show, “This is a Moment I Can’t Say”, runs in the Chate Room, King Street Gallery until 27^th April, and showcases her recent work.
 
Primarily a painter, Patricia has also worked as a musician, writer and theatre practitioner. Her work shows this cross-disciplinary influence, and has encompassed film, installation, sculpture and performance art.
 
Patricia has exhibited widely and her work has been purchased by corporate and individual collectors, both nationally and internationally. She was recently elected as a member of The Royal Cambrian Academy.
 
Read more…