The Art Buyer Gallery caught up with talented artist Melanie Goemans on her distinct colour palette, glorious subject matter, and an insight into a typical day at the studio. The Art Buyer selected eight truly wonderful original pieces of art in this Spring/Summer collection. From Birch trees to Blossom trees, the artist’s composition of naturalistic scenes make a delightful addition to the home or personal collection. The Melanie Goemans collection runs until the end of June, her paintings grace the gallery walls in a celebration of nature.
Melanie Goemans (Photo credit: Rob Mills)
‘Kattekens’ by Melanie Goemans
Pictured: Melanie Goemans (Photo credit: Rob Mills), ‘Kattekens’ by Melanie Goemans
What are the key elements that you feel compelled to explore within your practice?
My paintings are about small seasonal shifts and variations; the quiet beauty in natural commonplace things. I’m inspired by the fleeting and the temporary that I see around me, the constantly changing architecture of the familiar, and thoughts about transience and memory.
Did you receive any formal training in the arts?
Yes, I began by studying BA Hons. and MA History of Art at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London. Here I specialised in 15th century Italian art and alternated working and studying in Florence and London. Then I studied Fine Art (painting) MA at Cheltenham Art College.
Where do you gather sources to work from?
From my walks in the early morning when the ordinary, incidental things are quiet and glorious. I’m also inspired by things I have read / seen / experienced – performances, poems, conversations.
Melanie Goemans sourcing inspiration (Photo credit: Clive Doyle)
‘Silver (2)’ by Melanie Goemans
‘Silver (2)’ work in progress by Melanie Goemans
Pictured: Melanie Goemans sourcing inspiration (Photo credit: Clive Doyle), ‘Silver (2)’ work in progress by Melanie Goemans, ‘Silver (2)’ by Melanie Goemans
Talk us through the colour palette within your work.
Once I am back in my studio and working from memory and photographs, I’m away from the original source and so the painting distils and summarises. I tend to work with up to 7 colours using traditional materials – gesso, gold leaf, oil paint – to give an enduring value to the subject.
Do the changing seasons affect what you paint? For example, do you feel in tune to paint more florals in Spring & bare trees in Winter?
Yes, I think it would be difficult to paint a subject out of season as the seasons are so pervasive and affect everything that we sense outdoors.
Talk us through a typical studio day set up; we’d love to know if you have a routine, or if each day is intuitively different.
Over the years as my children have grown up and my old dogs have aged the routines have changed. These days I begin early with an hour’s walk with our new little dog, Stella. Then I drink coffee and look at studio admin, starting to paint around 11am. I listen to radio 4 – especially the woman’s hour podcast – to distract me from over-thinking while I work. I break every hour or so and finish at 6/7pm. I find it difficult to start and difficult to stop which always puzzles me.
Melanie Goemans in the studio
Melanie Goemans Studio Set-Up
Melanie Goemans Studio’s Furry Friend
Pictured: Melanie Goemans in the studio, Melanie Goemans Studio Set-Up, Melanie Goemans Studio’s Furry Friend
How do you wish for viewers to feel after encountering your paintings?
I’m grateful for every response to my work – that somebody has given it attention and felt something and tells me about it.
View the Melanie Goemans collection
‘May (miniature)’ by Melanie Goemans
‘May (miniature) #2’ by Melanie Goemans
Pictured: ‘May (miniature)’ by Melanie Goemans, ‘May (miniature) #2’ by Melanie Goemans
My Life In Art ~ Melanie Goemans
First piece of art you bought?
A small painting of a couple in a tree by Aliisa Hyslop
Favourite Artist?
Too many to list but a few of the greats that come to mind now are: Vincent van Gogh, Tracey Emin, Sandro Botticelli, William Blake.
If you could own any piece of art (even if you have to rob a bank or museum!), what would it be and why?
No contest – one of my late mother’s watercolour paintings, because I love to see what she noticed and how she chose to paint it.
The Art Buyer team truly enjoyed interviewing artist Melanie Goemans, especially gaining insight into her art practice. View the Melanie Goemans collection here, or better yet, view the collection in person at The Art Buyer Gallery until June 28th. We’re contactable at gallery@theartbuyer.co.uk
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