BIOGRAPHY

“It would be incorrect to say I am self-taught, even though I have no formal art training. I believe no artist is truly self-taught. Every artist has inspirations, past or present artists they have learned from. I have only two Masters: The Impressionists and Nature. I am obsessed by nature, often feeling overwhelmed by its complexity. Studying the techniques and writings of the French Impressionists has laid a path for me to express my feelings. The Colne and Holme Valleys and beyond, provide sublime landscapes where I find no end of beautiful scenes. I want to capture that, the essence of the subject, the feel, the transience of light and its effects on the land.

I learned long ago to stop looking at the landscape as defined objects. Wherever I go I forget all preconceptions about what objects are supposed to look like. I look at the negative space between them, the abstract shapes, tones and colours that are the structure of nature. Light, shade and colour have emotion. If I can convey just some of that emotion to the viewer of my paintings, I will call myself an artist.”

- Andy Jarvis