Artist Q&A: 10 things art show visitors want to know
Another year of art exhibitions is over. So, I thought it might be fun to share a few of the most common questions that visitors asked me during the last five shows I've done.
What inspires you as an artist?
I am constantly being inspired. My muse is not a person, but our gorgeous British countryside. My work is about emotional response to those landscapes. Never realistic representation, but expression of how the landscape feels and replenishes us, and the movement and energy of the elements, both visible and not. To always strive for a sense of meaning and connection. Then to translate that experience through paint, through texture, conveying the sense of energy, movement, or stillness, and light.
Which places are these paintings of?
While my work is inspired by British landscapes, when I paint it all comes from my mind's eye. The only time I may use reference photos is when I'm painting a commission for a client. Otherwise I never use reference material. While my work is influenced by growing up in Scotland and by my frequent travels in Britain, and even by my local walks, my paintings are imagined landscapes that develop their identity during the painting process. And from the emotions, feelings and memories that I pour into them. I suppose you could say that the they are the interplay between the real and the imagined.
How long does it take you to create a painting?
The time it takes to complete a painting varies greatly depending on the size, complexity, and medium used. Even some smaller pieces may take a few weeks, while larger works can take several months. Some pieces seem to develop easily from start to finish. Others present more of a challenge and go through many iterations. I never time myself while I work. I tried once, but soon forgot to keep track. Plus I usually have several paintings in progress in my studio at any given time. Some pieces need time to rest. Then I come back to them with a fresh eye, to see where they may need more work.
What art materials do you use?
I primarily work with acrylic paint, inks and other media. I do love oil paints, but their long drying time is generally a hindrance to the way I work. I enjoy experimenting with different materials and tools to achieve effects and marks I want in the painting. Some tools are classic, such as brushes and painting knives. Others are more modern tools, such as silicon scrapers, or objects from the DIY store that make great marks. Plus tools I have adapted or made myself over the years. Then I pick and choose as I work on the painting and get a feel for the kinds of marks, shapes and strokes I want to make.
What does "mixed media" mean?
Mixed media refers to the use of multiple materials and media in a single artwork. Traditionally, this can include a combination of paint, collage, assemblage, printmaking, sculpture, and other elements. These days, digital elements are also being included in that evolving list.
Specifically to my work, my reference to mixed media means that in addition to acrylic paint and inks, I may have included elements of collage, or have also used charcoal, oil pastels or pencils.
What is a limited edition print?
In terms of reproduction (and not the artform of original printmaking) a limited edition print is a printed copy taken from an original painting. Most often printed on paper or on canvas, these prints are produced in a clearly stated quantity. They are numbered and signed on the front, and once that specified quantity has been sold then no more prints will ever be made.
I like to keep my limited edition print sizes very small, generally no more than 10 of each specified size. This keeps them special and somewhat exclusive, and buyers enjoy knowing that not many other people will own that print. The price will reflect the select number of prints that will ever be produced.
What does open edition print mean?
An open edition print is also a reproduction from an original painting, but one that is produced in an unlimited quantity. This means that there is no specific limit to the number of prints that will be made, unlike limited edition prints.
While I don't specify a limit on my open edition prints, I certainly don't envisage printing extensive numbers of these either. I will prefer to retire them after a quantity sold, or length of time that feels right to me and my ethos towards my buyers and collectors. The price of an open edition will be lower than a limited edition print, given that the quantity of prints sold is not restricted and so is likely to be higher.
Do you make prints of every painting?
No, I don't. I've only started introducing fine art prints into the mix in the last 4 years. And I am very selective about which paintings will become prints. Many of them won't ever be reproduced. So, if you see an original painting you really love, my advice is don't wait! 😉
How do you know when a painting is finished?
A lot of artists, including me, find that this is sometimes a challenge. It's easy to just keep adding a mark here and a brush stroke there. And it's unfortunately all too easy to go too far and ruin a stage, or even a whole painting, that you really loved. That's why it's best to leave them alone for a while, and then take a fresh look before deciding whether they are finished or need something more. Of course, there are those golden times when it all comes together perfectly and you just know!
Are these paintings of the Sycamore Gap tree?
This last question is one that I have been getting asked frequently at every show I have done, since one of the most infamous acts of vandalism against nature took place in September 2023.
And the answer to that question, from my perspective, is: no, they are not. I have never been to that specific place so have not experienced the atmosphere and energy of that landscape. And none of my landscapes are painted from reference material. So unless someone ever commissions me to create a painting specifically for them based on that particular tree and landscape...
Yet, in the end, it all comes down to what the viewer sees, and their own interpretation of an individual piece. So, whether the viewer looks at any piece of my work and sees the Sycamore Gap tree, or their favourite place in wilds of Scotland, or the place where they had a lovely family picnic in the Lake District... The fact that my paintings trigger connections, memories or emotions that are special to them, that is the important thing.
Did you enjoy reading this insight into the kinds of questions artists get asked during art exhibitions? And discovering my own personal take on things?
Comment below, and please do add any questions you have about my life as an artist. I will do my best to answer.
Best wishes
Jayne Leighton Herd
Artist & Designer
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