Comparison, the thief of joy
Words: Tous Mag | Image Credits: © Georgia Hart |
Eloquently capturing any given mood of the landscape, Georgia’s ability to translate each season to paper is mesmerising. Owning her signature style of thick textured paint, it’s no question that Georgia Hart - British Canadian landscape painter - is quite literally making her mark. Each moment in time that’s encapsulated dances off the paper with swirls, slides, sways and leaps. The work’s 3D qualities and use of depth of field explores movement without limitation. No longer are they a painting hung on your wall in a frame, they’re a glare into the distance, a pause of appreciation for nature, and a sigh of relief that the world can be so beautiful. They’re somewhere far and beyond the four walls of your home.
Focusing on the landscape as her chosen theme, recounting her memories of places she’s once visited, Hart paints expanses you’d love nothing more than to explore; we’re left consumed by wanderlust and longing for adventure. Her escapism as a painter - producing such alluring landscapes - doubles as a blink of escapism for us, too. Transporting us to arid plains, chilly mountains, luscious green Surrey hills; wherever in the world, you’ll wish you could step one foot inside like Bert's chalk drawings in Mary Poppins. You can almost inhale the fresh air from each painting, one-by-one, until you’re satisfied that you’ve had your daily dose of the great outdoors.
For words direct from the artist read the interview, below!
Tous Mag: When did you know you wanted to be an artist? Was there a pivotal moment for you?
Georgia Hart: Art has always been a part of my life in some form, even throughout my Zoology degree I would paint; just for me, in my spare time. I’ve been painting for years, but for so many of those I don’t think I considered myself an artist. It’s like art found me. I’d created a portfolio, built out of a hobby between classes or jobs, before I realised being an artist could be an option for me.
I think the most pivotal moment wasn’t discovering palette knives or techniques that are now so critical in my work, but it was actually when I started to believe I was an artist.
It was the moment I stopped thinking of art as this part of me, and instead began to consider myself as a part of art, my art. With newfound techniques came this new dimension of joy and confidence in my work, and the want to share it with others in the hope someone else could feel it too.
I think wanting to be an artist came more recently than I’d care to admit. I can’t remember a time I didn’t love art, but its only in the last few years that I realised being an artist is something I could want for myself.
Tous Mag: Can you tell us about your process and any routines?
Georgia Hart: My signature style incorporates thick, textured paint, big skies, and movement. I work in both oil and acrylic, and my process can really vary between the two in terms of technique; it’s these elements that are the consistent thread throughout, with the goal being to create a sense of distance and wildness in my work, even in my smallest minis.
My work is inspired by my own connection with a place, and I work primarily from my own photos.
I consider myself a palette knife painter, and palette knives are the tool I’m always drawn back to. Even in my ink drawings, I’ll use a knife. I always work on paper, no matter what the medium. Every once in a while, I’ll deviate to canvas or cradled panel, and it’s just not the same for me. Palette knives and paper feel like me, whether it’s with oil, acrylic, or ink.
When I’m working in oil I work wet on wet, layering up with thick deposits of buttery oil paint until the painting is almost 3D, and in acrylic it’s that same layering and texture that I want in my work.
I work quickly. I rarely leave a piece and come back to it. I like to create a piece within a maximum of two sessions. That keeps it raw, in the moment, and I don’t lose the feeling.
Tous Mag: How often do you paint in an average week, does it ever become tiresome or do you find ways to keep your painting experience fresh and enjoyable?
Georgia Hart: I paint most days, even if it’s in my sketchbook and experimenting with new things instead of working pieces for shows or exhibitions.
It’s never tiresome to paint. It’s sometimes challenging, but that makes the ‘magic moments’ all the more magical. When it ‘just happens’, and it’s easy and fun. Sometimes you have to wrestle with a painting, it doesn’t seem to want to give itself up, but when it does it’s so incredibly satisfying.
Working in a sketchbook takes the pressure off, and allows me to experiment and work freely with no worry of failure.
Tous Mag: How has your practice changed over time? Were you trained or are you self taught and constantly learning?
Georgia Hart: My process is always evolving, as it is for most artists, but recently I’ve been experiencing such a rapid rate of change and a lot of variation in the way I work.
I was originally a wildlife artist, starting off in oil before trying illustration and eventually moving into landscapes. I’m self taught and I’m constantly learning and incorporating new techniques into my art.
I started in oil and still work in oil, but I’ve been working in acrylic and mixed media as well which I adore. I’ve found the ‘feel’ of my work for sure, but I love trying new things and experimenting with ways of expressing it
Tous Mag: What do you personally like about your work?
Georgia Hart: I’ve always loved nature and found it connects with such a deep part of me. I always want to include ruggedness, distance and a sense of wilderness in my paintings. It’s this wild feel that I love about my paintings, and the fact I hold detail back, using lines to suggest to the viewer, rather than determine exactly what they see. Big skies, movement and texture are elements I always love in my work
I love for the person who looks at my work to connect with their own memories and experiences and combine the feeling that I’ve conveyed with their own emotions connected to specific places.
My work marries linearity and deliberate lines with ruggedness and loose, textured paint.
Tous Mag: How do you manage your work/life balance, and do you think this becomes difficult when working independently?
Georgia Hart: I don’t think I do manage my work life balance, not well anyway. Having a day job as well as being an artist means I really am always working. I love it though, and I think that’s where the balance comes from; getting real joy from what I do. It’s important to stop sometimes, but things are moving quickly for me at the moment and I’m really enjoying it
Tous Mag: Do you think that, as an artist, you have a particular outlook on life? Especially as an artist inspired by nature.
Georgia Hart: It’s important to have goals, to look ahead and want to move forward. I think what’s more important though is to accept the process, in anything. This is something I’ve learnt from painting. Masterpieces don’t just appear. Sometimes they take tries, and ‘failures’, and even when they don’t, they started as a blank canvas, and you’ve got to go in knowing something good will come, even if it doesn’t appear ‘good’ or ‘successful’. Enjoying the process is so important, because the finished product is such a brief moment.
I don’t think everything happens for a reason, but I think there is something to be learned from everything, and things are much more linked and intertwined than we might first realise.
Tous Mag: Have you been given any painting tips or words of wisdom that you could pass on to our readers?
Georgia Hart: Comparison is the thief of joy. Time spent comparing yourself to others is time wasted. This is much easier said than done, and it is useful to look to others for inspiration, but I think it’s really important to focus on yourself, how far you’ve come, as well as where you want to go.
Art is this strange balance of looking inward and looking at what’s around you.
Tous Mag: What fictional character from literature or film would you like to meet and why?
Georgia Hart: Indiana Jones, for a proper adventure and a good dose of nostalgia
Tous Mag: What's next for Georgia Hart?
Georgia Hart: I have two big fairs coming up in the Autumn: Surrey Contemporary Art Fair and Roy’s Art Fair, so I’m enjoying having the next few months to be painting and prepping for those. I love being able to interact with art lovers and other artists. Being an artist can be solitary anyway, but especially given the last few months. I’m so excited to show new work.
From July I have an online art fair local to me, the Hambledon Art Fair, as well as work with new charity initiative, Unseen Art.
All this plus a growing list of commissions means I’m flat out, but I love it that way.
