Strangers on a
Shore
and other stopping places
2nd June to 1st July
DELIA TOURNAY-GODFREY - Oils
Chappel Galleries Colchester Road Chappel Essex CO6 2DE
Exhibition hours Wednesday-Sunday 10—5
Tel: 01206 240326
www.chappelgalleries.co.uk info@chappelgalleries.co.uk
By the artist:
Delia Tournay-Godfrey I have always worked directly
from the subject with my oil paints and all of the small-
er works in this exhibition are produced in this way, the
larger works are painted in my studio at home from
these smaller paintings and from sketchbook work. I
look and look for ages before deciding what is to be
painted and I tend to abstract whilst in front of the sub-
ject, simplifying what is there and eliminating unneces-
sary detail. This is then developed further in the larger
works using different compositions, for instance se-
lecting a large square canvas to work on from the origi-
nal rectangular small image, or a composite of maybe
two paintings, using figures from one small painting
and the landscape from another, often giving the fig-
ures more space, playing around with these ideas.....
And always with Ken over my shoulder telling me to
listen to my inner feelings about it and not to do too
much thinking....a few of his favourite guidelines were:
use your gut instinct, go for a strong composition, work
directly from the subject, go for mood, remain true to
yourself. Avoid the easy solution, slick brushwork, re-
peating yourself....and I could go on!
I use my car as a travelling studio painting from within
it whilst being protected from the elements and prying
eyes! I also paint on holiday, Craig and I tour with our
caravan around Europe and some of the paintings in
this exhibition were painted on location in Bavaria and
France, I always make sure we have a campsite with
wonderful views. I also own a beach hut at Bracken-
bury Cliffs in Felixstowe which I love and I have been
painting from there for the last couple of years.
I love the sea, the sound of the waves crashing on the
shore, and the colours and mood the sea presents in all
weathers, calm like a mill pond one day and wild and
romantic the next. I seem to have a relationship with
the sea which is very energizing and therapeutic; a fig-
ure or two painted in front of the sea reflects this and
has become endlessly fascinating as subject matter for