Light Eclipse Series - Setting Orb - Framed

Light Eclipse Series - Setting Orb Paula Coulthard

Dimensions:

Width - 350mm x Height - 490mm

Construction:

Water based paint and water on stone-washed and oxidised cotton canvas

Meditations on Celestial Orbs.

In the depths of our wet winter 2023 it felt like it had been raining for 6 months non-stop. The nights were long, the days short.

I was counting down to the shortest day. The thought of the sun made me feel happy. I decided to paint the sun, as a wish, as a prayer, as a visualisation.

I started with the sun but the other ideas I had been ruminating on started to emerge.

Themes of eclipse, moving orbs, the dance of our solar system, light and shadow, and all of these in relation to us and how they affect us in the rhythm of our days.

The phases of the moon, the length of the days, and the heat of the sun, all come into play. These paintings reference relaxation techniques of zooming out, and also the inner world, visions of light when eyes are closed.

They are both vast and personal, universal and cellular. These works are painted on aged and wet canvas. The imperfections and character of the aged canvas brings warmth and story to these pieces.

The wet painting technique brings atmosphere to the orbs. They are intuitive and joyful to create.