Artist Spotlight - Charlotte Elizabeth

There is a fundamental difference in my approach to my different series of work. The skyscape paintings , I start with black and white photographic reference to help me develop a sense of structure and composition. I like the colours to be more of an instinctive journey. I take other inspiration from music, poetry, folktales and try to layers these emotions within my final piece. The pieces develop over many many layers, revealing themselves to me and often ending up nothing like I’d planned!

I only paint my moon pieces during the three days the moon is at its fullest in the lunar cycle. I do little or no cognitive planning, allowing them to flow and come to life through play and experimentation. To me each moon paintings is a living thing made more special as they seem to appear by magic.

I began my sky scapes when we lived in Singapore. Singapore is a city in the sky, tempestuous clouds punctured by sky scraping buildings, roof top bars, restaurants 70 floors up. I was surrounded by the clouds, so I painted them.

The moons come from a primeval place. I’m a creative of the moon, my emotions and equilibrium waxing and waning alongside her lunar cycle.The pieces are a gift of self love during the full moon, painted with no pressure, no agenda and no expectation.

Barbara Hepworth, Maggie Hambling and Georgia O’Keefe

My paintings have a sense of duality, the shared versus very personal experience. Everyone loves cloud, star and moon gazing, it creates a sense of being a tiny part of bigger creation, of being alone but also fundamentally part of something. We all cloud watched as children. I like the idea my work evokes this sense of innocence, of contentment and tranquility. My greatest joy is watching other people discover things within my paintings I never knew where there.