Curios About: Washed Out Season by Derval Freeman

Washed Out Season
Derval Freeman
Oil and mixed media on canvas
120cm x 120cm x 4cm

1. This work is about . . . It is hard to explain what any one painting means. They are each a collection of pages from the visual diary of my thoughts, feelings and surroundings at a given time. I am deeply drawn to nature and preoccupied by the philosophy of time and the relevance of our existence. The parts in the landscape I am most drawn to are those that give a sense of fragility.

2. I made this work because . . . This painting stores my thoughts and feelings, which otherwise would have gone unresolved. On some of my walks through the woods I pick up pieces of twigs, dead leaves and pine needles. On this one occasion I felt compelled by their scent to bring them back to my studio and incorporate them onto a new canvas. So I spread them on a new large canvas and “sketched” the composition I had in mind.

3. I hope when people see this work they will . . . they can relate to it in some small individual way. That they are reminded of how wonderful yet how harsh nature can be in equal terms.

4. In terms of art history, this work . . . This work has been compared to the work of William Turner on a couple of occasions, which was refreshing to me because I was reminded of the very first pastel drawing I did when I was younger: of William Turner’s painting “Snow Storm” (1842). I was so amazed by it when I saw it for the first time that I had to have one of my own, so I sketched it in pastels. Turner has definitely influenced my work, and “Washed Out Season” is probably the closest to it so far.

5. You can see my work . . . on my website, Facebook and Twitter.

Curios [sic] About is a series featuring works by Dublin artists, curated for us by our friends at the Square in the Circle blog, and hosted there as well as here.

Each artist is asked to submit an image of one work and answer a set of questions about it. We’d love it if you’d submit something you’ve made.