Abstract paintings from Flowers and City Streets:  Vivien Blackburn

The flower based paintings  in pastel, oil paint, watercolour and mixed media were abstracted from studies of pansies, paeonies, roses, poppies and irises and are part of a new series of work that is ongoing.

The earth toned City Streets series grew from a series of sketches looking at the city in a different way and came out of sketches of potholes and debris and road markings.

Harlequin

These paintings are based on Harlequin from the Commedia del Arte.  The original costumes were patched and this became stylised over time,  costumes became diamond or square patterned.   I wanted to show the long ages of the show, suggest the sheen of satin and silks and candlelight on spangles without actually representing them figuratively.