Linda Jane Smith

HISTORY & BACKGROUND

IВ’ve always loved drawing, and would enter lots of competitions as a child. Beatrix Potter was my favorite, and in one of the competitions I had to include all of her animals in one picture, so I put them all in a wood, strolling through the trees. I delightedly won the competition and my prize was one of her books. I also enjoyed sewing and made various things; hoarding scraps of felt, beads, and basically anything pretty. I used mainly colored crayons or pens for artwork so that I had more control over detail.

At the age of 16 I was accepted into Bournville College of Art to study for a Graphic Design course. It was very varied and taught me various new skills. This was when I first used Designer Gouache and got used to its various qualities. I later organized exhibitions at local venues and sold work to The Stable Gallery, London, where I had my first major exhibition.

I worked as a window dresser for two years, but was always writing stories and painting in my spare time. Throughout my working years I constantly showed my work to publishers and the Halcyon Gallery in Birmingham regularly bought my work. As a result of this Washington Green asked me for a set of four small cat paintings, and consequently I embarked on a publishing program with them.

IDEAS & INSPIRATIONS

Inspiration for my work can come from anything and everything! I usually have a small drawing book with me when IВ’m out, and often make notes on colours and designs etc. IВ’m an avid collector of all kinds of objects, vintage hats, purses, and antique china, which often turn up in my paintings. I love the delicate nature of old faded fabrics, lace, and beaded jewelry. My work has a nostalgic feel, which reminds you of childhood days В– reading the Beano comic, or sorting through Grannies button tin. Photographs are a good source of reference material for me. I use subjects such as the brickwork of an old building or beautiful patterned tiles in fishmongers. IВ’ve always been fascinated by fine detail; looking at a picture and finding more and more tiny objects that you didnВ’t notice at first glance; a tiny glass marble, or a bright ladybird under a leaf. As a youngster I collected old childrenВ’s books and pictures by artists like Arthur Rackham, who did fascinating detailed pictures of fairies, goblins, and trees full of branches with strange faces peering out of every root. I suppose my first recognition of wanting to be an artist was seeing Nicola BaileyВ’s work from the В‘Tiger VoyageВ’. Her work is so rich with colour and detail itВ’s almost like looking at a beautiful antique fabric. Needless to say IВ’ve since collected all of her books, and many other books by illustrators that I admire such as Kathleen Hale, Kit Williams, and Sara Midda. I also like traditional British icons such as road signs, post boxes or telephone boxes. I try to draw on everyday occurrences that happen to us and then substitute with cats В– queuing to use the phone or lazing around on the sofa eating chocolates.

FROM PALETTE TO PICTURE

Once I have an idea the painting starts with the research, which usually means sorting through my files for reference material that will help to get details accurate. I keep magazine articles on interior design, antiques, architecture and fabrics etc. I love this part of it and often spend hours in the library looking for information. IВ’m getting used to taking my camera with me wherever I go and often take pictures of rusty iron gates, old paintwork flaking off a door, post boxes etc В– all the traditional sorts of things that we see everyday. I do take photos of cats, but I think that IВ’m so used to looking at them and the way they move, that I very rarely use reference when painting them. I work out the idea for the painting in a sketchbook and when IВ’m happy with it IВ’ll cut the watercolor paper to size and will draw up the finished picture using fine pencil lines. I always start painting the background first, then slowly work forward till only the cats and mice are left. I decide on their colours to fit against the tones of the background. I use Designers Gouache paint, which gives me a wide range of techniques. I started using it at Art College and have been hooked ever since! ItВ’s a water-based paint, which can be thinned down to various degrees, from a thin translucent wash, as in traditional watercolor, to a rich dense tone. If IВ’m painting the fabric on a cushion I put on a wash of colour then build up the tone and shape with tiny dots of colour to create form. ItВ’s the same for cats; only their fur is painted in small flecks exactly as it would grow. I use small sable brushes and just a few large ones for the background. I have been known to use a decoratorВ’s brush for a large expanse of sky! I tend to work on one painting at a time and get thoroughly engrossed. Sometimes to the extent that I donВ’t want it to ever be finished, however, I soon get an idea for the next one and it starts all over again.

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF LINDA JANE SMITH

I donВ’t know what Beatrix Potter did, but I feed the birds and clear out the back bedroom. What is it about delaying the start of work? Most artists and writers I know have the same problem. Once IВ’ve done all the usual jobs around the house IВ’ll settle down at my table with a cup of coffee and carry on with whatever painting or drawing IВ’m working on, whilst listening to Radio 4 of course В– I couldnВ’t live without it! Next doors cat usually comes in to see me during the day, and itВ’s an excuse to potter around the garden and do a bit of weeding. You do have to be disciplined to some extent, but I still think IВ’m lucky being able to work from home and arrange my day to suit me. If I go out I tend to work later in the evening to make up for lost time. I have files of magazine cuttings for reference, but if I need something special IВ’ll take a trip to the library. My work is usually planned, so once the initial drawing is done I can settle down to paint. I have lots of other projects on the go as well, so once the work is done and I have cooked dinner, IВ’m either painting furniture, sewing or taking an endless supply of cuttings from the garden!

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