Claire James

The mixed media artwork presented here I created out of the admiration and inspiration I have for the late Hannah Hauxwell, particularly the televised ‘Too long a Winter’. Acrylic paint and modelling paste along with copper wire and oil pastel were used to portray a sense of the remoteness and hardship Hannah faced alone enduring harsh long winters in the Yorkshire Dales.  

I have worked with various media on many projects and pieces in the past, to date the pieces included here are by far my favourite to produce. 
My ideas start with making the copper wire figures twisted and shaped by hand using a pair of pliers and attaching scrap material to create rugged, worn clothing and the old fashioned, infamous farm wellington boots I remember seeing as a child. I then layer a board with acrylic paint and paste creating texture before leaving to dry. Oil pastel is applied to enhance the textured surface and the copper secured to the painting. To finish, several layers of clear varnish are applied. 

South Wales born and surrounded by rural beauty, I am often drawn to creating countryside and farm like paintings and drawings with a touch of rustic and somewhat quirky elements, experimenting with whatever thrift I can lay my hands on!