I did the following preliminary sketches before embarking upon the above drawing. I was working from a photograph as Storm Dennis was in full sway thus preventing direct observational drawing.
As I drew these sketches, I thought about my influences for landscape drawing. David Hockney came to mind. I’d seen his exhibition at the Royal Academy a few years back. It left a lasting impression. I recall having left the building thinking that his art is immediately accessible. Not to everyone’s taste, of course. But I like it. It made me feel as though the only thing standing in the way of my having a regular artistic practice was my own attitude to self. If David Hockney can paint purple roads and pink trees than why couldn’t I? Really, it comes down to having the time, the space, the ability and the inclination. But as well as this, there is the need for self-promotion. Marketing oneself as an artist is an art in itself. It’s one that I do not relish but perhaps must deal with effectively should I wish to make a living from my own creative output.
Maureen Walker's blog: An Artist's Journey 