november meeting | shopping village
Clare’s most recently completed artwork features her first racing picture, painted using pheasant feathers
“Cheltenham is a really lovely experience, from the people to the atmosphere”
also a label for Pol Roger magnums, for example. She sells her paintings globally and has clients all over the world. She has also been shortlisted twice for Wildlife Artist of the Year. Clare says one of the things that led to her success was listening to what her friends and then her clients wanted. “Right from the start, when I was painting in my kitchen, my friends would suggest that I had prints made, or stationery. It made me realise how important it was to listen to what my clients wanted.” It’s also one of the reasons that Clare loves taking her work to Cheltenham: “It gives me a fantastic chance to catch up with clients and meet new people and hear what they want.” If you ask Clare ‘Why Cheltenham?’, there’s no hesitation in her answer: “That’s easy. Cheltenham is a really lovely experience, from the people to the atmosphere. The Jockey Club has things incredibly well organised and looks after those of us exhibiting brilliantly. It’s also a fantastic place to take my art, not only to sell original work, but to introduce it to new clients – people want to be able to see art in person before buying it.” Clare says the whole Shopping Village is brilliantly laid out: “It leads the public very naturally from one stand to another and has everything from fashion to art. It’s also a great place to shelter when it’s raining, and like my dream department store – it has all the things I want to look at!” For Clare, the chance to talk to new and old
clients is a fantastic one. “I get the chance to show what I produce to people who don’t know my work, which is invaluable.” Clare certainly takes the time to catch up with friends, too, and enjoy the races, “I love the buzz of Cheltenham, though I always pick the wrong horse if I bet!” Clare is starting to work on a few equine pieces, though, she says they are unlikely to be something that she specialises in. “Horses are incredibly challenging to put on paper. Besides, there are too many other subjects to paint as well!” She finds it hard to name a favourite subject: “There are too many – and it depends what mood I’m in. I went back to Kenya last year, and I’m obsessed by African wildlife. Birds flying have to be one of my favourites, capturing that movement with the splatter. And, if it’s a really grey day – a very neon-coloured flamingo.” Clare uses hand-made watercolour paper: “The quality is really important. The ink on the quills catches the ridges of the paper and add that extra bit of life to the work.” Watercolour and ink are both used, and Clare says her husband has been encouraging her to work in oils: “I did a lot of oil painting when I was at art college.” At the moment,
however, the inks are what really inspire her. “You have to build the layers up carefully and slowly, and wait for layers to dry, but once they do you can scratch into the layers. I’ve got into using gold leaf on the pieces as well. I love the vibrancy of the inks, and how bright and true the colours are.” There’s plenty of choice of subject matter and work when she is in her studio, and Clare tries to put in serious working hours when she isn’t touring the country to show her work: “I’m supposed to keep up with the paperwork, but I hate it! I’d much rather stay in my studio, painting, with the fire lit. I have two dogs – a champagne- coloured cocker, Wigeon, and a black Labrador, Muddy, and two bunnies that we bought for our sons, but I’ve fallen in love with, called Mixy and Flopsy, who hop around while I’m working.”
For more information, visit clarebrownlow.co.uk
The Shopping Village at The November Meeting and The Festival TM presented by Magners, provides a huge selection of retail offerings from fashion to original art and handmade gifts.
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