My Visual Diary
An exhibition by Lauren Bremner
Below are a selection of artworks from the exhibition which are for sale. To make a purchase enquiry, contact us at info@artlinkcentral.org
Lauren grew up on Birch Road and has a love for the silver birch trees that were in the woods nearby. The silver birch holds many personal meanings and connections. The original painting was the outcome of a creative school leavers project that Lauren worked on in her final school year. Lauren experimented with paint and mark making and how to add texture to the canvas by layering and pasting crumpled tissue paper onto the canvas before applying paint with rollers and brushes. Lauren was inspired to work with silver leaf to create the contrast of the silver birch bark.
Silver birch
Giclee Print, £80
This was the first piece Lauren created working remotely at the beginning of lockdown 2020. It was undoubtedly daunting for Lauren having to set up working at home and work with her tutor Jacqueline online. This piece reminded Lauren of happy times amongst the uncertainty. Lauren previously went horse riding with the Riding for the Disabled charity group and has some wonderful memories of riding on "Haggis'' the horse.
Haggis
Pencil and Tea Stain, £40
Lauren was booked to go to Italy for the first time in June 2020 on a family holiday. Lauren quoted "As this wasn't meant to be, I brought Italy to me!" Lauren could only dream of the Venice scenery during lockdown. Her love of boats and sunsets inspired her to do this watercolour painting of a Venice Sunset scene. Lauren loved working with the colours, from the rich warm orange and yellows of the sunset to the deep purple and blues of the reflection on the water.
Venice Dreams
Watercolour on Paper (Watercolour Pens and Water Brushes), £70
This piece was inspired by a photograph that Lauren took on a family trip to Arisaig. Lauren was inspired by the tones in the photograph and decided to work with a favourite trait of her's, which is tea and coffee stain combined with watercolour painting.
Arisaig
Mixed Media, Pencil, Watercolour and Tea/Coffee Stain, £70
This painting was inspired by a photograph that was sent to Lauren from her boyfriend's mum, a photo taken on holiday that she knew Lauren would love. Lauren says "I love sunsets and was immediately inspired by the yellows and the orange colours reflecting on the water."
Summer Haze
Watercolour Pencil, £70
Lauren loves nature and experimenting with ideas in her studio inspired by nature. This small collage piece was a culmination of experimenting with some printing blocks, creating different layers of texture and colour inspired by nature's colours to which Lauren then added gold leaf and a twig and leaf cutting.
Fields of Gold
Mixed Media and Gold Leaf, £50
A celebration of Lauren’s love of cats in print.
Lauren has a deep connection with animals, particularly with cats. She feels lifted and warm in their presence. Oscar is a special cat to Lauren, and they have shared many ups and downs together.
The monoprint series of ‘Oscar’ explores the spontaneity of both the technique of the printmaking process and the nature of the animal.
Oscar 2
Monotype on paper, £80 set
A diptych of monotype drawings.
These two prints were inspired by photographs Lauren captured of Oscar. The prints express the cat’s typical poses of affection and loyalty.
Oscar 3
Monotype drawing on paper, £80 set
The Blue Feathers are a commemoration of Lauren’s late Grandmother on her Mother’s side, Elizabeth. The prints were inspired by the feather tattoo Lauren got as a fond memory of her Gran. The feather symbolises enlightenment and also the happiness Lauren felt being with her.
Enlightenment 1 & 2
Monotype drawings on paper, £60 each
These prints were inspired by the blossom tree at the front of Lauren’s garden at home. The tree was planted with some of Lauren’s grandmother's ashes and is a memory of her.
Lauren recognises the significance of the renewal, regrowth and cycle of the tree. During the time the flowers were falling, Lauren collected, pressed, photographed and finally made monotype prints of the fallen flowers, eternalising the blossom.
Cherry Blossom 1 & 2
Monotype prints on paper, £60 each
Inspired by her love of Nature, Lauren selected leaves and feathers as the subject-matter. Using a paper-making deckle instead of a small screen, the prints of leaves and feathers were then transferred onto Japanese paper. Shiny gold and purple colour was chosen to contrast with the natural hand-made paper colour background.
Screen Prints, £30 each
Maple Leaf on Gold I
Inspired by her love of Nature, Lauren selected leaves and feathers as the subject-matter. Using a paper-making deckle instead of a small screen, the prints of leaves and feathers were then transferred onto Japanese paper. Shiny gold and purple colour was chosen to contrast with the natural hand-made paper colour background.
Feathers on Lilac: Dark to Light
Maple leaf on gold II
angel feather on gold i
angel feather on gold iI
Lauren made the pair of rose paintings by tracing the image from a photograph onto canvas, working with pencils to mark out the light and dark tones, then applying white and silver paint on top.
Red Rose was created in the same way as Silver Rose, with the addition of layers of red glazes on top of the monochrome image.
red rose
Acrylic on canvas, £60
Lauren made the pair of rose paintings by tracing the image from a photograph onto canvas, working with pencils to mark out the light and dark tones, then applying white and silver paint on top.
Red Rose was created in the same way as Silver Rose, with the addition of layers of red glazes on top of the monochrome image.
silver rose
Acrylic on canvas, £60
I miss you
Pastels on paper £50
The Pastels paintings were made using paper stencils cut from photographs. These were placed on paper, and brushed pastel technique applied to create silhouettes. The pastel seemed the perfect medium to give an impression of the coloured sky in Castle Skyline in Spring.
The Bastille theme was inspired by a concert Lauren had enjoyed a few days before making the images. The pastels create the effect of illumination of electric lights against the dark silhouettes of the people in the concert hall.
Living it up with Bastille
Pastels on paper £50
This series of felted artworks were inspired by photographs that Lauren took of Stirling landscape. Lauren used various wet felting techniques to produce these artworks. She wanted to express the ever changing colour of the hills and sky. The felt making process made Lauren feel relaxed and she very much enjoyed the process.
Merino wool, pre-felted sheets, wool strings. £50 each for larger works. £15 each for smaller works.
Stirling landscape study
Merino wool, pre-felted sheets, wool strings, £50 each
Stirling landscape study
Merino wool, pre-felted sheets, wool strings, £15 each.
This was a scene inspired by a photograph Lauren took when staying with her Grandpa one weekend. Lauren recreated the view in charcoal, allowing some flexibility to add and lift off areas of the charcoal from the paper.
Window View
Charcoal on Paper, £150 (Framed in black moulding)
The National Wallace Monument
Triptych of drypoint prints on paper, £60 each
These prints were made as part of the Stirling Landmark series. Lauren has been experimenting with a variety of printmaking techniques including intaglio – drypoint. Lauren particularly enjoys this process for the range of marks and hand drawn print quality. The dampening of paper, as part of the process, prior to print resulted in a spontaneous addition of tone and depth which Lauren celebrates.
Wallace Monument
Mixed Media, Pencil, Watercolour and Tea Stain, £70
Stirling Castle from Gowan Hill
Watercolour, £60
Wallace Monument
Mixed Media, Pencil, Watercolour and Tea Stain, £60
STIRLING CASTLE
Triptych of monotype prints, £60
STIRLING CASTLE
Triptych of monotype prints, £60 each
STIRLING CASTLE
Triptych of monotype prints, £60 each
The Pastels paintings were made using paper stencils cut from photographs. These were placed on paper, and brushed pastel technique applied to create silhouettes. The pastel seemed the perfect medium to give an impression of the coloured sky in Castle Skyline in Spring.
Castle Skyline in Spring (not exhibited at FVRH)
Pastels on paper, £50 each
During the last three days of the residency, Lauren worked with artist Robyn Woolston. Bringing together the experimentations of the previous days, as well as combining the inspiration provided by local nature and colours, the triptych celebrates the time at Cove Park. This work took much time and effort from Lauren and she is very proud of the final result. The green of the luscious vegetation surrounding Lauren’s studio and pod, the leaves used for printing and incorporated here, the blue of the sea, the red of the sunsets; all come together vigorously and joyfully in these three canvases to mark the end of what was a very meaningful experience for Lauren.
The Cove Park Triptych
Mixed media, acrylic and leaves on canvas, £500 set
Abby (not exhibited at FVRH)
Watercolour, £50