Jan Lovett

ELVIS THE KINGFISHER
(Oil on board, with palette knife)

Having never painted birds before, I wanted to paint a very brightly coloured one, so it had to be the kingfisher. I started and used oil brushes - and made a complete mess of it. So I had to start again. The background is in acrylic, which dries very quickly, so I blow-dried it with a hairdryer and started again. Messed up the kingfisher yet again. So I painted over him. However, he showed through. Painted over him again. Again, he showed through! I decided not to paint a bird after all; it was too difficult for me and I was fed up by this time. Then I had a flash of inspiration: I would do the bird, but with palette knife. It was clear that this bird did not wish to be erased; he wanted to live, so I had to paint him, he made me. This is how he turned out eventually and I am very pleased with him. I called him Elvis because they do say that Elvis Presley still lives – a bit like this kingfisher.Just as Elvis didn’t give up on me, I didn’t give up on him.

DAFFODILS
(Oil on board, with palette knife)

From time to time, I set myself little challenges.... with this painting of my favourite flowers, I decided the challenge was going to be: no use of brushes. I would put paint onto a brush and then scoop it onto my palette knife and then lay the paint on with the knife. Even the background is done by using natural sponges.

GONE FISHING
(Oil on board, with palette knife)

I started this in March 2006 (no kidding). I began with oil and brushes. It was flat, dull and deadly boring. The reason for this is that I was not personally in a very good place at that time. So I put it away. In December 2009, I found it again and it was as horrible as I had remembered it to be back in 2006. But instead of chucking it, I decided I would tackle it again but this time I would use the palette knife. It’s a wonderful, relaxing scene of a guy out on his boat catching fish, taking his time and enjoying life. It was a Christmas gift to my mum. She didn’t get it until I finished it end January 2010! But she says it was well worth waiting for.

WINTER IN CANADA
(Oil on board, with palette knife)

I wanted to do a painting with lots of trees in it – that was my aim. All was going well, until I realised, part-way through, just how many trees I needed for this painting. On and on I went, still enjoying it but thinking: wow, what a lot of trees! So, be careful what you wish for.....

BY THE BANKS OF THE RIVER
(Oil on board, with palette knife)

I really lost myself in the creation of the rocks. This painting made me feel peaceful doing it and makes me peaceful even now when I look at it.

THE WATER LILLIES AT GIVERNEY
(Oil on board)

My very first attempt at using oils back in 2001 – honestly! Since 1999 I had used watercolours. Very nice, but I just fancied a chance. I was lent some oils to try it out and decided to paint the garden where Monet’s home is, just outside Paris. A pretty big ambition when you consider it: first time with oils and board... what’s the first thing I try out? Only Monet’s garden! The wooden frame is hand-made by a friend of mine.

SEASCAPE IN BLUE
(Oil on board, with palette knife)

This was my first outing with the palette knife. I just wanted to do a seascape, using mainly blues, violets and sandy tones. I really enjoyed it and decided that using the palette knife was for me. I now have a set of them; all different shapes and sizes. This is a favourite of mine.

STORMY SKY, ANGRY SEA
(Oil on board)

I decided I wanted to do the sky and sea when they are at their most furious, because you get so many different effects. It was a pleasure to paint this and I love looking at it.

THE COMMON PARK
(Oil on board)

This was a big board and I wanted an even bigger, open-type, double frame, to highlight the wide expanse of the park. It’s early morning and nobody is in the park yet; not even the joggers. The title was given to this painting by my son. “It’s the Common Park”, he said. I asked him why. “Well, this park is for everyone”, he said. “Anyone can come to this park and enjoy the flowers and the trees and the grass”. Sounds like a good title to me, and so it has stayed.

TUNNEL OF LOVE
(Oil on board)

This was my second foray into the world of oils. I wanted to paint an avenue of trees, leading at the end to a sculpture. Every single paint stroke is a tiny dot and it took me 5 months to paint this. It helped me develop patience, as I realised this was not going to be completed in a week. I called it “Tunnel of Love” after the Dire Strait’s song. I still picture myself walking through those trees.

WILD WATER
(Oil on board)

I wanted to work on mountains, rocks and water. Water is incredibly hard to paint (well, I think so anyway). I wanted the cascading effect of the water coming down from the rocks and swirling around at the bottom and I think I've captured it ok.

WOODLAND IN SPRING
(Oil on board)

This is a relaxing, spring-time painting that makes me think the better weather is ahead of us; the trees will blossom and we will walk through ferns. My husband loves this one.

THE LOST WORLD
(Oil on board, with palette knife)

I have used a range of methods in this painting: the sunshine haze is made by the use of a massive hake brush, gently folding and caressing the board and working the oils into the board. The rocks are all colours; very vivid purples and greens, where the algae has settled. The background and right hand side are dark; this is the dark side of the land, whereas the left hand side is bathed in light and warmth. I have been asked why there are no people in this painting. That's because this is the Lost World, where there are no people; nature is allowed to breathe and thrive without the intervention of the human race. This painting brings calm and peace.