Tess’ inspiration and style
with TESS NEWALL
Lesson 2 of 32
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For your first lesson, Tess talks through her process of seeking inspiration. She also suggests how you might like to find your own sources of inspiration for the hand-painting projects you'll complete later on in the course.
From the Lesson Workbook
Tess' Inspiration and Style
The first topic we'll be covering in this course is inspiration. I'll be showing you where I look to be inspired, and I'll also be suggesting how you might like to find your own sources of inspiration for the hand-painting projects we'll do together later on.
Looking for Inspiration
Inspiration really can come from anywhere, and where you seek it will always be personal to you. It's about learning to really look and notice what you are drawn to.
By tuning into what inspires you, you will start to discover and hone your own style of decorative painting.
Places to Find Inspiration
- Other examples of decorative murals or painted furniture.
- Patterns and motifs in nature.
- Antique fabrics or tiles.
- Churches and chapels.
- Decorative Arts museums and galleries at home and abroad.
- The work of artists and designers.
- Traditions from other cultures.
- Visits to historic homes.
- Books on wider subjects and mediums that interest you.
My Inspirations
Lascaux Cave
I find the paintings within Lascaux Cave, in the Dordogne region in France, hugely inspiring. They were painted 17,000 years ago using natural pigments to create colour, which was applied using sticks and hollowed-out bones. They weren't painted to be realistic, and I find the fluidity and liveliness of the shapes mesmerising.
Medieval frescos
Mediaeval frescos are another source of inspiration for me and I love the palette of colours that are often used. They can often be found in churches and chapels, so I like to seek them out when visiting anywhere new.
Decorated farmhouses
I recently went on a trip to Sweden and became completely enchanted by their traditional style of folk painting. I visited the area of Hälsingland, which is particularly known for its decorated farmhouses. They were most densely decorated in what they called 'the celebration room', where special occasions were held. I also went to the home of artist Carl Larsson, Tureholm Castle, Gripsholm Castle and felt very inspired by the embedded cultural desire of Swedish people throughout history to paint and decorate their surroundings.
Rajasthan, India
Another research trip I took was to Rajasthan in India, where I was particularly moved by the use of colour and the different ways colours were combined. I also observed a really interesting use of scale, which I have been inspired to use in my own work.
Charleston Farmhouse
Much closer to home, I'm very lucky to have the Charleston Farmhouse almost on my doorstep and I visit often for a boost of inspiration. It was the home of the Bloomsbury Group, and mostly decorated by Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant and almost every surface has been hand-painted. I find their carefree and unprecious approach the most inspiring part, and love the way it hasn't been overthought - it's artistic self-expression at its finest.
Patterns and motifs
I also love to find inspiration from patterns and motifs in other mediums. You may find you love a particular motif - flowers, for example - and it can be really inspiring to seek out how these are represented in different mediums other than paint.
The landscape
I live in the South Downs, East Sussex and am constantly inspired by the landscape around me. From the colours to the formations of different plants, the possibilities are endless.
Antique fabrics
Studying antique fabrics can be really enlightening. I love to see how seemingly complex patterns are made up of surprisingly simple shapes once you take a closer look. The colour scheme of a fabric can also inform the colours of a decorative painted piece.
Further Reading
Lascaux Cave
Examples of British Medieval frescos
Examples of French Medieval frescos
Must-see frescos in Italy
Information on Danish Medieval frescos
Hälsingland, Sweden
The decorated farmhouses of Hälsingland
Artist Carl Larsson
House of Carl Larsson
Images of Tureholm Castle
Gripsholm Castle
Duke Karl's bed chamber at Gripsholm Castle
City Palace, in Udaipur
Juna Mahal, in Dungarpur
Visiting Charleston
The lives of those within The Bloomsbury Group
'Charleston: A Bloomsbury House and Garden', by Quentin Bell and Angela Nicholson
'Quimper Pottery', by Ann Marie O'Niell
'Glorious American Quilts: The Quilt Collection of the Museum of American Folk Art', by Elizabeth V. Warren and Sharon L. Eisenstat
'Tudor Textiles', by Eleri Lyn
Ardingly Market
Kempton Market
Your Assignment
Take the first step in seeking out your own inspiration; research a period in history that you love, order a book on a subject that fascinates you, or dig out old holiday snaps from inspiring places you have been. Take note of patterns and motifs you feel drawn to and begin a collection of references that make you feel inspired.
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Your Instructor
Tess Newall
Acclaimed artist and set designer specialising in hand painted homewares and decorative painting.
Tess Newall is a decorative artist based in Sussex, specialising in hand-painted bespoke murals and furniture. Following a decade of experience as a set designer and painter in the film industry, Tess has mastered how to bring a creative vision to life. She often draws on historic patterns and aims to capture an artisanal feel, where textures and brushstrokes add to the atmosphere of a room or to the character of a furniture piece. Tess and her studio team work with interior designers and private clients on bespoke commissions for both commercial and residential projects, as well as collaborating on homewares collections with brands including Liberty and Matilda Goad.
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