Art Group Wanstead member Ruth Perry developed her artistic skills during the pandemic, and now finds inspiration in local nature
I’ve come quite late to art. Until I was about to turn 50 in 2020, I hadn’t really done art of any kind since school – and I didn’t do much there! I don’t even have an art O level. As part of a New Year’s resolution to try something different, I signed myself up to a beginners’ watercolour day at City Lit. It was scheduled for mid-April, but then the pandemic hit and we went into lockdown.
Undeterred, I decided to see what I could teach myself using YouTube videos. It turns out quite a lot! I started watching videos by Alan Owen, an elderly Lancastrian with a love of classic English watercolourists like Edward Wesson and Ron Ransen. I also came across Karen Rice, an online tutor, who encourages experimentation with mark-making, using bubble wrap, clingfilm, sticks from the garden and credit cards. I liked combining watercolours – often thought of as a rather traditional ‘ladylike’ medium – with these more modern techniques.
Finally, I found Lois Davidson, whose loose, atmospheric landscapes I found really appealing. Just as importantly, I liked the way she explained her process and her attitude to making art. Through Lois, I learned to enjoy being playful with watercolour as a medium, trying out different colour combinations, mark-making techniques and brushes. I learned it wasn’t important to always produce a painting; what mattered was to experiment, have fun and take some learnings from whatever happened during a painting session. This has been excellent advice that has seen me progress from an absolute novice to a hobby painter who actually sells her work.
When the pandemic ended, with hours of practice under my belt and a growing number of paintings cluttering up the house, I joined Art Group Wanstead just as they were planning their annual stand at the Wanstead Festival. Fellow group members – Donna Mizzi, in particular – were incredibly encouraging and offered me practical advice on framing and pricing. I sold six paintings at that first festival and since then, I haven’t looked back.
Wanstead is a great place to be an amateur artist. Last year, Allistair at Compassionate Funerals on Hermon Hill offered me a beautiful space for a solo exhibition. The Stow Brothers regularly invite Art Group Wanstead members to exhibit in their High Street office and this summer, I even had a solo exhibition there.
I am continuing to experiment, branching out into mixed media, combining watercolour with photography, oil pastels and lino printing. I also recently bought myself a gel plate, so who knows where that will lead?
I’m still finding my style as I try out lots of different approaches. But I’d say my work is generally characterised by a willingness to be led by the medium combined with a love of delicacy and precision. And much of it is inspired by local landscape and nature.
To view more of Ruth’s art, follow her on Instagram @ruthperryart
For more information on Ruth’s work, email ruthxperry@gmail.com
