Welsh landscape art
Landscape art is my favourite genre. As a contemporary landscape painter and landscape artist, I get to express what it personally means to me through painting. The Welsh landscape is a part of who I am. It inevitably shows up as a sense of atmosphere and movement in my painting, because I am so familiar with its elements.
There’s something monumentally special about being out in the landscape alone. I feel overwhelmed by beauty of creation. Osian Gwent
I have a special affinity with the Welsh landscape, especially the Black Mountains. Fortunately, I am blessed to know them well. They represent home to me, even though I now live in mid-Wales. It’s true to say that I have a deep connection with this part of the world. The Welsh landscape continues to inspire my painting to this day. Particularly on extremely stormy days!
Finding the essence of contemporary landscape painting
I have always enjoyed landscape painting. I look at landscapes very differently these days. This approach is reflecting more and more in my drawing and painting. Basically, I want to represent the essence of what the landscape is saying to me. And quite often in a contemporary landscape painting, its the simplicity of the underlying shape and form that gives it a unique structure.
I enjoy landscape painting. I look at contemporary landscape paintings by other contemporary landscape artists and I feel inspired. Firstly, it was about the details. Now, I tend to look at and observe the landscape differently. it’s more personal now. Attempting to make the unseen, seen. This approach seems to be reflecting more and more in my drawing and painting.
I was trained to do detail but it doesn’t do it for me anymore. Instead, I’d rather capture simplicity. Here, I look at structure and form and break it down into simple shapes. What draws my attention is the mood and atmosphere. Thus, by working quickly, I transfer energy and movement into my painting. For me, as a landscape painter, my subject is never static.
It begins with a simple sketch
I take my sketchbook everywhere. Every contemporary landscape painter needs to. I draw a few simple lines to capture the basic structure. After that, I simply look and observe. Then I take mental notes. For instance, I study movement or changes in colour. Then back in the studio, I allow the painting to dictate to me a remembered reality.
Now, let’s talk about the contemporary landscape painting below. My eyes were drawn towards the distant hills. I chose to represent them as a block of colour and a simple outline. Next, I painted them in a grey/purple oil colour as this helped to make them recede into the landscape painting. The day was windy and therefore I wanted to capture that movement.
Modern | Contemporary | Expressive Art
In addition, my recent landscape paintings featured in a solo contemporary landscape exhibition in the Welsh Assembly Cardiff.
So, do come to visit me in my art gallery in mid-Wales. My studio and gallery is open six days a week from Mon-Sat and features my latest work. Private viewings are welcome. Send me an email via my contact me page. Drop by and see me at work. Likewise, everyone is welcome to come for a chat and I am happy to share my techniques.
Osian Gwent Welsh contemporary landscape artist.