What artists do I admire? Who has provided most beautiful objects and scenes to inspire me? Who has influenced my work?
1. God
God has provided so many things for us to see, as well as the eyes to see them with. Many humans adore the sexual organs of the higher plants. I was so taken by the colours of this geranium growing in Sissinghurst in a garden designed by and cared for by Ms. Vita Sackville-West. Just below the photo is my painting of it.
The Sissinghurst geranium
My painting of the Sissinghurst geranium, 2005
2. My Parents
I am fortunate to have a rich artistic heritage in my parents.
Cyril is an architect by profession, but he is also an artist in his own right. He has been hung in the Royal Academy of Arts for his architectural drawings. To him I owe so much, including a sensitive appreciation of perspective, colour and form. He painted this autumn scene in Hattoji in Okayama, western Japan in 1998.
Hattoji Folk Museum by Cyril Winskell, 1998
Patricia is an accomplished embroiderer doing quite a lot of work locally for the church and other compassionate organisations. She won the prestigious award of the Olga Stokes Cup for ecclesiastical embroidery. Patricia says her intention always is to interpret the desires of those commissioning her into the final work to the delight of the client and herself. To her also I owe so much, including attention to detail and the patience to see a project through to completion. She gave my wife this cushion for her birthday present last month.
Persian Tile by Patricia Winskell, 2013
3. M. C. Escher
Escher was a Dutch artist who was influenced by his love of Japan where I live. His work can be viewed here:- M. C. Escher’s official site. His playing with perspective and pattern has inspired many. His ‘Metamorphosis’ is famous. I was very taken by his Puddle, and based a work on it (below).
Eight Variations on a Theme, 2010 — See the entire collection in Galleries/East Meets West.
4. Richard Bizley
Recently a friend let me know about this marvellous artist whose life sciences background and interest in heavenly spheres chime with mine. I feel Richard Bizley is streets ahead (or light years ahead) of me. He is the kind of artist I wish I had known about a long time ago. He is so skilled at creating a sense of depth and grandeur in his prehistoric landscapes and scenes of planets moving through space. Eclipsed Pluto could have inspired this work of mine (below) had I known about it.
Heavenly Lights, 2008 — See the entire collection in Galleries/Creation.
There are many more people I could add such as Monet, Turner and Hokusai. Eventually I must open a new page describing the major artistic influences in my life.
Next week, on 28th September, I hope to return to my galleries and add one more set of works painted for a calendar which together form “The Window of Praise”.
