07.05.11 Contextual

Mary Fedden 

'Cat and Compass'

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'Irish Lilies'

'The Chinese Teapot'

Neil Hadfield from Illustration recommended that I look at Mary Fedden's work, which I'm very grateful for as I absolutely love the her work . 

Fedden's early work , which was more or less naturalistic compositions depicted in low key tonal colour, is not what I'm drawn to , even though very beautiful it lacks the individuality and vibrancy of her later work.

It was after the second world war that she really developed the style that we are familiar with today - still life with a view beyond, simplistic compositions full of colour , these are the works that I can relate to .

The subject matter is the obvious connection that I have to her work. Fedden painted mostly domestic still life , containing what appears to be objects that she was normally surrounded by, with a view beyond. This view isn't something that I necessarily create , but something that I have within the composition as space , which for me feels similar, it allows you to travel beyond  the initial image creating the impression that there is further interest beyond, it's almost like a comma in a sentence - a pause before you read on.

What Fedden creates is in theory a staple of modernist English painting but is in reality beautiful, simplistic, fun, soft, domestic , bold - in all quite a contradiction. 

To achieve all these things is a fine balancing act that Fedden appears to achieve with ease through her exploration of the subjects she is familiar with and this for me is the key - know what you paint.

The simplicity in the uncluttered nature of Fedden's work is something I hope to achieve within my work, the layering process that she uses within her composition  prevents the piece feeling too full. I need to think in these terms - building up the layers of my images.

The use of colour in Fedden's work is not so much bright as strong, I generally like soft colours however the strength of her colours really appeals to me and when I look at my work or home I can see that I use limited strong colour with soft colours to keep an overall calm feel.

A strong line and shape is important in my work and I love the strong feel of Fedden's work which has balance , harmony and incredible delicacy, I would love to be able to create work with this confidence, strength and at the same time tenderness, I think they're fantastic.