Chrissie Havers

: Nov. 2020

: 120

(20)

United Kingdom

  • Blackmore’s Track

    Blackmore’s Track

    It’s always nice to see a painting hanging in situ in a client’s house. They wanted a large landscape painted in warm colours on canvas for the wall beside the staircase. This painting is 48 x 36 inches and has a narrow box frame. The subject is a track near our house where we walk the dogs.

    23 March 2022
    Making canvases

    Making canvases

    Some of the canvases drying including a very large one [80x40cms]. You can see the next stretcher ready to use sitting on the top of the folded raw canvas.

    28 May 2021
    Making canvases

    Making canvases

    I haven’t made my own canvases for a long time. So it was really nice to do it again. The craft of the whole process is very satisfying. First you have to measure out and cut the heavy cotton canvas to fit each set of stretchers, then using a staple gun, staple the canvas onto the stretchers at the back so that the staples are hidden from view. Next comes the lovely part of painting on the acrylic gesso and gradually the whole procedure comes together as the white gesso transforms the canvas. After that it is left to dry thoroughly which takes a couple of hours I think in warm weather. I used to make my own traditional gesso with an egg yolk, whiting powder and rabbit skin glue - again a real feeling of the craft of the painter -but as I am now using acrylics that particular gesso is unsuitable because it is only used for oils. So now here is a lovely group of canvases ready and waiting! What is so good about this group is that they were all paintings that hadn’t worked, so stripping off the old canvas to replace with the new is doubly satisfying.

    28 May 2021
    Studio works

    Studio works

    30 November 2020
    At work in my studio

    At work in my studio

    Putting finishing touches to “Blue Lake” which is based on the lake at Bodnant Gardens North Wales.

    30 November 2020
    The October 2020 Pop Up

    The October 2020 Pop Up

    A closer view of some of my paintings.

    30 November 2020
    Detail of a Pop Up

    Detail of a Pop Up

    2020 saw most of my organised exhibitions cancelled so it was really nice to have a weekend Pop Up show in Cambridge alongside several other artists. It was held in the workshop of a talented furniture maker - which is where we usually have Open Studios weekends every July. Here you can see a few of my paintings on display both framed and mounted, as well as large pieces of furniture making equipment!

    30 November 2020