Carolyn Kirkland

CV

I studied graphics at art college specialising in typography. After several years as a designer I decided to break away from this discipline and to concentrate on developing my own drawing and painting.

In pursuit of this I explored a number of techniques and became fascinated with traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy. I worked as a tour guide and tutor in China and travelled extensively throughout the different provinces also taking classes at the Beijing Central Academy of Fine Art.

After several years teaching in Adult Education I looked for a way forward to stimulate creativity and originality and attended the Kingston University Faculty of Art where I graduated with an MA in ‘Drawing as Process’ in 2004.

I have exhibited in galleries in London, Sussex, Gloucester, Cumbria, Kent and Dorset and my work accepted for the 2011 Pastel Exhibition at the Mall Galleries. I am also a member of the Chalk Gallery Artist Co-operative in Lewes, East Sussex.

My Work

My work is about touch – the way in which a mark making instrument propelled by hand makes contact with a surface to create something that didn’t exist before.

My approach is initially a rapid response from subject to self using direct observation to capture a mood, an expression of a moment or movement and then developed from memory and imagination.

I am particularly interested in the simplification of form using notated calligraphic lines and layering of surface pattern, texture and colour for dynamic richness.

I have a preference for mixed media on paper, with subjects taken from female form relating to social activities, theatrical performance and fashion.

I adopt a project -based approach to producing themes resulting in a series of related works.