Inspired by his local landscape, Lawrence Coulson's evocative paintings illustrate the power of nature.
FOREWORD Through All Seasons takes us on a grand tour of scenes guaranteed to evoke a nostalgia and longing for all things British, from recent additions to our city skyline such as the Millennium Dome, to the fairgrounds and fishing trips that call to mind many a childhood of bygone days. Such idyllic impressions create a longing to bask in the serenity of these enchanting landscapes; one cannot help but feel an irrational jealousy for the figures enjoying their environments. Yet they have been granted access to these beautiful locations not to incur the jealousy of us mere onlookers, but painted in by Coulson to create a sense of scale within the compositions. Here the artist has taken the trouble to create perspective for us, to portray nature dwarfing humanity, to remind us of our place within the hierarchy of the infinite. This work is far more than a collection of picture perfect postcard moments. Far from being designed merely to please the eye, these scenes aim to evoke a surreal sense of atmosphere, to create a moment for the onlooker, almost to disquiet us in a most pleasing way, as a pervading sense of déjà vu brings an involuntary rush of memories to the fore. As remarked by one of Lawrence’s two heroes, John Constable, “painting is but another word for feeling”. As a young man first embarking upon his quest to master his craft, he was bestowed with invaluable advice from his father, celebrated artist Gerald Coulson. Telling his son, “Only two things matter: the beauty of the subject, and the skill of the artist.” Lawrence’s path was set towards achieving the stunning simplicity to which he aspired. This devotion to his craft has seen Coulson scour the British coastlines, moors, hillsides and cities to capture every view and skyline that will then take its rightful place in his oeuvre. His main obstacle is, and reportedly always has been, self-criticism. He demands perfection of himself, and the highest quality of work at all times. In these darker moments of self-doubt, Coulson takes courage from William Turner’s final works, finding endless valour in the bursts of colour and explosions of light that the second of his artistic heroes managed to create within his work, painted -
incredibly - when Turner was approaching complete blindness. Through All Seasons is beautifully conceived; unpretentious scenes captured and interpreted for the enjoyment of others. One can only hope that, somewhere, Turner and Constable are smiling their approval.
TECHNIQUE Throughout his prestigious career to date, we see Coulson diversify in subject matter whilst retaining the technique and flair that has earned him critical acclaim and an ever growing audience of collectors. We can be assured that this progression is consciously geared towards an absolute avoidance of his own personal comfort zone, and a conviction to continue evolving, improving and challenging perceptions of him as an artist. Here we see a looser technique, a more fluid approach, which comes with Coulson’s acquired skill and confidence with his subject matter. Coulson first applies the paint with a big brush, before using his fingertips to blend and push colour into the canvas. This physical interaction with his work has only been part of his method in recent years, incorporated only once he felt he could be sure of the lightness of his touch and the delicacy of his finish. A keen photographer, Coulson will take reference shots to support his work back in the studio once a vista has sown the seed of an idea in his head, but this is as far a concession as he will make to modern technique. In his words, he likes to work ‘off the grid’ and enjoys the relative isolation that comes from a studio where there is no mobile phone reception, much less WiFi and other technological intrusions.
The Colour of Love Original oil on board - 46cm x 122cm - Framed: £6,500
Greenwich Blue Original oil on board - 91cm x 91cm - Framed: £9,950
After Glow Original oil on board - 40cm x 40cm - Framed: £2,950
Silent Shelter
Original oil on board 46cm x 76cm - Framed: £4,950
The Sound of Birdsong Original oil on board - 61cm x 61cm - Framed: £4,950
Vale of Silence Original oil on board - 76cm x 76cm - Framed: £6,950
Where Memories Lie Original oil on board - 40cm x 76cm - Framed: £4,950
Nightfall Original oil on board - 61cm x 61cm - Framed: £4,950
Meadow Dusk Original oil on board - 46cm x 46cm - Framed: £2,950
HowWe Remember
Original oil on board 46cm x 76cm - Framed: £4,950
We’ll Always Have This Original oil on board - 40cm x 40cm - Framed: £2,950
AQuieter Place Original oil on board - 76cm x 76cm - Framed: £6,950
Just Me & The Moon Original oil on board - 23cm x 76cm - Framed: £2,950
Soft Light, Quiet Words Original oil on board - 76cm x 76cm - Framed: £6,950
Sunset Shared Original oil on board - 61cm x 61cm - Framed: £4,950
Still Is The Night Original oil on board - 30cm x 102cm - Framed: £4,950
“I will always refer back to the oldmasters... They got it right two hundred years ago, and I still havemuch to learn.” - Lawrence Coulson
“With an eyemade quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things.” - WilliamWordsworth
Through Summer Evening Original oil on board - 46cm x 122cm - Framed: £6,500
This Silent Splendour Original oil on board - 61cm x 61cm - Framed: £4,950
The New & The Old Original oil on board - 91cm x 91cm - Framed: £9,950
The Spark Between Us
Original oil on board 46cm x 76cm - Framed: £4,950
Spring Shower Original oil on board - 23cm x 76cm - Framed: £2,950
The Last Sunburst Original oil on board - 40cm x 40cm - Framed: £2,950
The Quiet City Original oil on board - 61cm x 61cm - Framed: £4,950
Love Still Lingers
Original oil on board 46cm x 76cm - Framed: £4,950
A Slower Pace Original oil on board - 40cm x 40cm - Framed: £2,950
I Will Shelter You Original oil on board - 61cm x 61cm - Framed: £4,950
Skyline Gold Original oil on board - 23cm x 76cm - Framed: £2,950
Autumn Gathering Original oil on board - 76cm x 76cm - Framed: £6,950
Fading Fury Original oil on board - 61cm x 61cm - Framed: £4,950
A Secret Place
Original oil on board 46cm x 76cm - Framed: £4,950
Where I Will Always Love You Original oil on board - 40cm x 122cm - Framed: £6,500
BIOGRAPHY “Lawrence Coulson generously gives us what we like and need, those feelings of solitude and escape in wide open spaces under heavens so high they might reach to the edge of the universe.” These are the opening words of art critic David Lee following a critique of my work in 2013, one of the most important moments in my thirty years as a painter, and one of the most thrilling. He has captured the essence of my work completely and goes on to compare my work to the great masters such as Turner and Constable that have long had such an influence on me. Drawing and painting was central to my life as a child, growing up in a world of painting, my father being the acclaimed artist Gerald Coulson, and my love of cars dictating constant sketching of these. During later childhood it was indeed my ambition to be a car designer, something that never came to fruition. Upon leaving school with little academic success (my art ‘O’ level was graded at D) I fell into a succession of retail positions forgetting any artistic aspirations. It wasn’t until around 1983 that, following encouragement from my father, I tried my hand at oil painting, him setting me the exercise of copying Victorian landscape paintings from old Sotheby’s auction catalogues. So pleased was I with the results, that I took the opportunity to hang a couple in a pub we drank in, at £30.00 each. A week later both had sold, and my journey had begun. Local success in galleries around my home town of Cambridge followed, and then further afield, as I slowly began to build both a technique and a reputation. In 1996 I was given the chance to use a restaurant owned by a friend as an
exhibition space for an evening. I worked hard to produce around twenty paintings, had them framed as beautifully as I could afford, and took the opportunity of inviting Paul Green, now one of the countries most influential figures in the art world. To my delight, not only did he attend, but he purchased most of the paintings. After a year of supplying Paul’s Halcyon Gallery I made the jump into full time painting and - two years later - a deal was struck with his business partner Glyn Washington and my publishing career commenced. I was lucky to win industry awards in 2002 and 2003, and I am currently Washington Green’s longest serving artist. My landscape paintings focus on the atmosphere of particular locations rather than the geographical characteristics. I am interested in what they make the viewer feel, what they can draw out of the painting. Collectors in the past have employed wonderful phrases to describe the work, ranging from ‘escapist’ to ‘romantic’ to ‘melancholy’, all of which pretty much grasp what I am trying to achieve. Growing up and still living in East Anglia to this day has given me an appreciation for our huge open skies and the dramatic light that they can portray, as well as a very British obsession with the weather. I now possess a small cottage near the North Norfolk coast; an area for which I have a deep love, and has been the backbone of artistic reference for most of my career. My future lies in the constant struggle to refine the work while absorbing more of the beautiful landscape that surrounds us. I will always refer back to the old masters, be they British, French, Dutch or American. They got it right two hundred years ago, and I still have much to learn.
The images contained within this literature are an artistic representation of the collection. To best experience our art, we recommend you contact your local gallery to arrange a viewing. © Washington Green 2015. The content of this brochure is subject to copyright and no part can be reproduced without prior permission
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