Cornwall


<p>Continuing our<em>&nbsp;Artists &amp; Makers</em>&nbsp;series, spilling it this month is Vicki Norman, artist and oil painter, who lives and works in Newlyn, West Cornwall.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1799" height="2306" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/thumbnail_Vicki-Norman-Profile-Picture.jpeg" alt="Vicki Norman, artist, Cornwall" class="wp-image-34237" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/thumbnail_Vicki-Norman-Profile-Picture.jpeg 1799w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/thumbnail_Vicki-Norman-Profile-Picture-624x800.jpeg 624w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/thumbnail_Vicki-Norman-Profile-Picture-780x1000.jpeg 780w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/thumbnail_Vicki-Norman-Profile-Picture-768x984.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/thumbnail_Vicki-Norman-Profile-Picture-1198x1536.jpeg 1198w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/thumbnail_Vicki-Norman-Profile-Picture-1598x2048.jpeg 1598w" sizes="(max-width: 1799px) 100vw, 1799px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-did-you-become-an-artist">How did you become an artist?</h2>



<p>I’ve loved drawing and painting since I was a child. My Mum painted portraits and our home was full of prints and postcards of Newlyn School and Pre-Raphaelite artworks, which inspired me to paint. I graduated in Fine Art Painting and Printmaking 24 years ago and have worked as a professional painter ever since.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-can-you-sum-up-your-work-in-a-sentence">Can you sum up your work in a sentence?</h2>



<p>Timeless, light-filled, impressionistic oil paintings capturing beautiful places, people and stories with a traditional skill set and a painterly touch.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="799" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Morning-Song-Vicki-Norman-799x1000.jpeg" alt="Vicki Norman Morning Song" class="wp-image-34243" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Morning-Song-Vicki-Norman-799x1000.jpeg 799w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Morning-Song-Vicki-Norman-639x800.jpeg 639w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Morning-Song-Vicki-Norman-768x962.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Morning-Song-Vicki-Norman-1227x1536.jpeg 1227w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Morning-Song-Vicki-Norman.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Morning Song</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-your-ideal-working-environment-nbsp">What’s your ideal working environment?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>Painting outside, on location during the ‘golden hour’ is always the most exhilarating way to paint, but my historic net loft studio in Newlyn is my favourite place to plan and make studio work. </p>



<p>I have a big easel and palette, great light, all my lovely books to inspire me from my armchair beside the stove and beautiful views across Mount’s Bay just outside the door. I couldn’t wish for a more perfect place to work.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-a-little-bit-about-your-inspiration-and-process-nbsp">Tell us a little bit about your inspiration and process.&nbsp;</h2>



<p>I love to paint on location; the weather, sounds and scents of a place somehow find their way into my paint brush, adding a vitality to paintings made ‘en plein air’.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="790" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Mousehole-Morning-Vicki-Norman-1-1000x790.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-34240" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Mousehole-Morning-Vicki-Norman-1-1000x790.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Mousehole-Morning-Vicki-Norman-1-800x632.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Mousehole-Morning-Vicki-Norman-1-768x607.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Mousehole-Morning-Vicki-Norman-1.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>I often find myself captivated by the light striking a subject, striving to figure out precisely what it is that catches my eye. I set about making little thumbnail sketches for a composition that conveys the essence of the subject. Once the design is resolved, I quickly set to work with oil paints straight onto the linen, blocking in large areas of colours with plenty of paint and energy. Later, when I’m satisfied with the light and colour relationships, I’ll add more detailed shapes and modify edges and brushwork to finish the image.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-did-you-have-to-learn-any-new-skills-unrelated-to-painting-to-create-your-works">Did you have to learn any new skills unrelated to painting to create your works?</h2>



<p>Painting new subjects gives me the opportunity to study so many new things! I’m currently learning to sail traditional boats with the Cornish Maritime Trust. Understanding the functionality of the boats has helped enormously in my ability to paint them accurately. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Vicki-Norman-Cornwall-Maritime-Trust-1000x667.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-34241" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Vicki-Norman-Cornwall-Maritime-Trust-1000x667.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Vicki-Norman-Cornwall-Maritime-Trust-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Vicki-Norman-Cornwall-Maritime-Trust-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Vicki-Norman-Cornwall-Maritime-Trust.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Attempting to surf has improved my paintings of waves, though my surfing leaves much to be desired! I’ve learned anatomy by making an écorché sculpture of the body from the skeleton outwards, forming each bone and muscle from clay as I constructed a whole body piece by piece. There’s great improvement in my figure painting since the sculpture project. </p>



<p>Previous studies in meteorology and geology gave me deeper insights for painting clouds, rocks and mountains. Knowledge of physics helps me to paint light and shadow relationships better, and some basic chemistry goes a long way when researching pigment and mediums!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-your-favourite-cornish-views">What are your favourite Cornish views?</h2>



<p>I am in love with the view across Mount’s Bay from our house in Newlyn, we can see St Michael’s Mount on the far side of the bay from every window, I can watch the weather and the light change throughout the day. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/04/mousehole.jpeg" alt="mousehole" class="wp-image-22948" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/04/mousehole.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/04/mousehole-300x200.jpeg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/04/mousehole-720x480.jpeg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/04/mousehole-768x512.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2021/04/mousehole-787x525.jpeg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>I also adore the colours of Lamorna, the vast wildness of Sennen and Cape Cornwall, the rugged remoteness of the moorland tin mines and the intimacy of Mousehole (above). There’s more than a lifetime’s worth of inspiration just here in Penwith!</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-you-working-on-now">What are you working on now?</h2>



<p>As artist in residence with the Cornish Maritime Trust this year I’m making a series of works recording the experience of being a member of their wonderful organisation. </p>



<p>I’m fascinated by the skilled craftsmanship that goes into maintaining and sailing their four beautiful historic fishing boats. Alongside paintings of the boats and crews I’m including images of people at work in boatyard scenes and remote coastal views to reflect all aspects of the trust and their work.&nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-where-can-we-see-your-work-this-year">Where can we see your work this year?</h2>



<p>The Old Coastguard in Mousehole will host a fundraising exhibition of my recent works for the Cornish Maritime Trust from Weds 26&nbsp;June to Tues 23&nbsp;July, with a ‘meet the artist’ afternoon on Fri 5&nbsp;July. All works are available to view and purchase directly from my studio and gallery at Gwavas House, Newlyn by appointment and on my <a href="https://www.vickinormanstudio.com">website</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-do-you-have-a-favourite-painting-of-yours-or-one-that-holds-strong-memories">Do you have a favourite painting of yours or one that holds strong memories?</h2>



<p>“Mousehole Morning” is a favourite of mine, I made it before we moved to Newlyn from Shropshire. As I painted with friends on the beach I remember thinking how wonderful it would be to live here and be able to paint these beautiful Cornish scenes all year round. The painting serves as a happy reminder that dreams really can come true!</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="790" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Mousehole-Morning-Vicki-Norman-1000x790.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-34239" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Mousehole-Morning-Vicki-Norman-1000x790.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Mousehole-Morning-Vicki-Norman-800x632.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Mousehole-Morning-Vicki-Norman-768x607.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/cornwall/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2024/06/Mousehole-Morning-Vicki-Norman.jpeg 1500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Mousehole Morning</em></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-could-magically-transport-one-piece-of-artwork-in-the-world-to-a-wall-in-your-home-what-would-it-be-nbsp">If you could magically transport one piece of artwork in the world to a wall in your home, what would it be?&nbsp;</h2>



<p>I think it would have to be one of Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida’s amazing Spanish coastal scenes, probably <em><a href="https://www.wikiart.org/en/joaqu-n-sorolla/on-the-coast-of-valencia-1898">On the coast of Valencia 1898</a></em> or any one of his many lovely oil sketches made from direct observation on the beach!</p>



<p><strong><em>See more of Vicki&#8217;s work and get full details of her upcoming exhibitions at <a href="https://www.vickinormanstudio.com"></a><a href="http://www.vickinormanstudio.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">vickinormanstudio.com</a></em> – The Old Coastguard in Mousehole</strong> exhibition runs from Weds 26 June to Tues 23 July.</p>


Muddy Meets: Vicki Norman, Artist, Cornwall

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