I like photography and increasingly it becomes more amazing however to me it seems to have invaded the world its slick tenticles are everywhere; in art, advertising, publishing. I miss the world of illustration of drawing and painting the world where the fingerprint, for want of a better word, of the artist is in the work. Consequently I feel the need to make works which have a liveliness and a humaness about them. Works which could only be made by a human hand.
I make works about subjects like man and his effect on the land, about the seasons, perseids, nature in general (sounds naff when you write it down but in truth its quite compelling). I live in Umbria and with my studio in an old hayloft I find inspiration everywhere. I love the mad complexity of what i see with my eyes. In my work I regurgitate that bombardment of the senses. At times I feel the need to pare it right down to basics just one or two colours stark contrasts of summer heat or winter desolateness. At others I let the joyous riot flow. I am interested not in reproducing reality but am trying to create work which retains something of the essence of reality.
My work varies in technique fairly widely. From printmaking to painting and all points in between. I like to mix and match my techniques. The decision about "how" to produce a certain piece I find usually comes fairly easily. The idea in some way just says "I'm a painting", "I'm an etching", "I'm a linocut" which sounds all a bit twighlight zone to my more rational self but I'm not going to fight it.
Recently I have been working with a technique which involves both painting and printing on to masonite or canvasboard or wood, a hard surface anyway which has usually been well gessoed and sanded, sometimes polished but usually some texture remains. Sometimes it's almost like a weft and weave effect and sometmes more of a scumble. I start with a fairly neutral coloured base and build from there I have been working a fair amount with litho inks of late - there is a gorgeous subtley as the work builds up especially as they have a lovely transparent quality. More of which later.
You can also view my work at the Saatchi Gallery and at artslant and artbreak to find out more about our olive oil and our life here go to Casa Margherita.
Most of the works on this site are for sale. I use PayPal which means you can buy using all major credit cards. Paypal is a secure online payment system. For more information about PayPal please visit www.paypal.com
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Rachel Williams paintings and original prints. Contemporary art direct from the hayloft in Umbria