SCOTTISH PAINTER BESIDE LOCH LOMOND:

NOTES ABOUT YOUR ‘WORK ADVENTURE’ …

I have always, since an early age, had a love of colour and paint.

-THE REASONS FOR APPROACHING THIS ‘WORLD’ WITH THE INTEREST AND       DETERMINATION OF CREATING A PARTICULAR REALITY …

My approach to the world is a response to everything the senses bring – touch, taste, sound, smell, vision.

-TASTE AND STYLE AS ESSENTIAL AND IMPORTANT ELEMENTS …

Taste and style are ever evolving – it doesn’t stand still which is a good thing.

-AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS ADVENTURE, WHAT WERE YOU INSPIRED BY? …

Inspiration came from visiting galleries and loving illustrations in books.  Pattern, composition and colour were always a fascination.

-WHICH COLOURS DO YOU FEEL NEAR YOUR WORLD? …

I am lucky to live surrounded by gorgeous Scottish landscape.  The palette is endlessly beautiful –  soft tweedy greens and siennas and the water changing colour according to the weather.  The sky can be gunmetal grey, azure blue, almond pink and some evenings ablaze with sunsets.  The seasons dictate the colour.  

-WHAT ARE THE 3 COLOURS THAT DEFINE YOU?

My “go to” colour is always pink – I love it’s range and softness, it’s ability to offset every other tone around it.   I adore lapis blue, mustard yellow and grey.  Even if I’m painting something that these colours have no obvious place in they will feature!

-WHAT WELCOMING ATMOSPHERES AND PRECIOUS LITTLE THINGS DO YOU LOVE TO SURROUND YOURSELF?

My dog, music, red wine, chocolate, ginger tea, log fires are all magical things to have around me.

-YOU ARE A FAN OF … motifs, objects, styles …

Motifs, objects and styles are always helpful – everything comes and goes in fashion with so much history attached.  We learn so much from the past, a single object can evoke so much emotion.

-WHICH MATERIAL DO YOU LIKE …

Material: oil paint, acrylic paint, ink, chalk, pastel on plywood and thick card.

-WHICH ACCESSORIES DO YOU PREFER

My favourite accessory is an old credit card I use like a palette knife – the marks are so random and inspiring, I follow the mark and the work hopefully evolves.

-THE ARTISTS WHO ACCOMPANY YOU, ONE OF THE BOOKS YOU REMEMBER WITH PASSION …

Matisse for colour and simplicity and composition and sheer ingenuity.  Joan Eardley for her exquisite Scottish landscapes and compassionate paintings of Glasgow children.    The book I return to again and again like a favourite film is The Shell Seekers by Rosamund Piltcher – it’s about a beautiful painting, the artist, his family and the past.

-YOUR ‘SLOGAN’ is…

Slogan – Enjoy the Process

-YOUR IDEAL CUSTOMER …

Ideal customer:  one who understands and connects with my work, who doesn’t need any explanation and responds by buying or commissioning.

Real customer: comes with something in mind, has already bought before and is generally interested and supportive.

-YOUR REAL CUSTOMER …

Future projects include larger pieces allowing more scope for bigger colour blocks and layering.  I’m keen to explore the revealing / concealing process.

-PROJECTS IN THE NEXT FUTURE …

Inspiration, motivation, environment and response to life is so personal it can’t help but reveal itself in paintings.  Clients say they can spot my work in a room full of other artists so whatever distinguishes me is apparent to others.

-THE ELEMENT THAT DISTINGUISHES YOUR APPROACH IN THE TYPE OF WORK?

AND WHERE YOU LIVE? …

Living beside a Scottish Loch is very therapeutic.  Water is a magical thing.

WHAT DO YOU BRING IN YOUR CITY OF ORIGIN? …

I don’t know what I bring, I’ve never thought about it to be honest.  I know that emotionally I am very loyal to my roots.

-YOUR DREAM IS …

My dream is to write and illustrate a children’s book.

-THANKS TO …

My thanks go to two immensely influential art tutors who made a profound difference to me.  Huge thanks also to my amazingly supportive husband and children.

-WHAT WOULD YOU BAD IN …

Bad in politics- absolutely no patience with it all!

-BELIEVE IN …

I believe in a balanced life.

-WISH YOU THAT …

I wish with all my heart that my gorgeous, precious daughter didn’t die when she was 6 months old.

-THE WORDS THAT INSPIRE YOU …

You can do anything you want but not everything.

-A SMILE TO …

Huge smile to my family, friends, wine drinkers and art lovers the world over.

E-mail: claire.maclellan@icloud.com

Mobile: 07753 204750

Instagram: claire_maclellan