Growing up in rural Lincolnshire, a county of flatlands, big skies and far-reaching horizons, I developed a love of the countryside and nature, whatever the season, whatever the weather. As my own horizons spread, I became fascinated with the landscape, vast or small, thunderous or quiet; from soaring mountains to reed lined creaks, contorted trees thick with lichen…

“Windswept, ink and charcoal” by Carolyn Roberts

…. or windswept beaches adorned with tide-washed pebbles.

“Cei Bach, watercolour” by Carolyn Roberts

The form, colour and textures of these wild places provide constant inspiration; from the dark, brooding gritstone of Derbyshire…

“Gritstone, ink and charcoal” by Carolyn Roberts

….to the sea-fret, with all its soft hues, shrouding the North Norfolk coast.

“Norfolk Memories, watercolour” by Carolyn Roberts

I make sketches and notes, take photographs…. but mainly, when out in the landscape I just walk or sit, watching, seeing, listening, absorbing the essence of the place. Returning to the studio, I explore all my notes, drawings and experiences, working with charcoal, inks and watercolours: mediums that are fluid and spontaneous, unpredictable even. Allowing the watercolour or ink to run and pool, to build up soft layers; the work evolves almost organically, intuitively, until it becomes a distillation of my emotional response to the landscape rather than a specific representation of the location.

“Wild Seas, watercolour” by Carolyn Roberts

Words and Art by: Carolyn Roberts (@CJRFineArtist)

Website: carolynjroberts.wordpress.com

Article Commissioned by: Rebecca Nickolls (@becknickolls @artistscribbles)

For another great watercolour article read Stephen Rooney’s article on representing snow in watercolour here: https://artistscribbles.com/2015/03/02/bright-white-light-broke-through-the-gathering-snow-artist-stephen-rooney-on-his-wonderful-watercolour-snowscape/

and Thomas Schaller’s article on “Listening to Your Painting” here: https://artistscribbles.com/2015/03/18/306/