Land, sea, sky, light; these aspects are all manifest in this latest body of work although no one painting is of any place in particular. Karen, inspired by the north east coastline, started painting again in 2014 after a gap of nearly 12 years. Since that time, her painting has moved from depictions of specific places to a deeper interest in the connection of ourselves with the landscape. ‘Of no places in particular’ is referencing that journey where her paintings draw on elements of her experiences in the landscape coupled with a desire to evoke a particular mood or feeling not rooted in a particular place. The landscape painting, if you will, has now become a vehicle for communicating the artists lived everyday, mostly subconscious, emotional journeys. Life, especially, at the moment, is full of change, uncertainty and a rollercoaster of emotions. These paintings, depict a small aspect of this artist’s response to the last 12 months.

‘I make no plans when I begin a painting and simply apply paint to board, card, paper or canvas and see where the muse takes me. I work quickly and intuitively and work and re-work paintings many many times over before finally finding a finished piece. The many layered process is part of the piece - traces, mistakes, early marks, scratches, - mark the journey and the changes and without them the painting lacks character and struggle. I am rarely satisfied and find it often difficult to leave a painting, but when the process reaches a conclusion there is often a sense of relief or catharsis. Painting is both a huge pleasure and a difficult and frustrating activity, but one I would no longer be without. I hope I never stop painting again.’

Karen Sherwood.