David Cranswick

My Paintings are inspired by light and shade and the mysterious relationship of tone and colour. Research into the techniques and recipes used by the 'Old Masters' has taken me into the underlying symbology of their methods and processes which have their roots in much more ancient periods.

Inspired by the knowledge contained in ancient traditions I construct my paintings according to ancient principles; through the use of a carefully developed underpainting (grisailles), the colour is subsequently revealed through a series of repeated glazes, allowing the light and shade from within the paint layers to reflect through.

For me, the most important element in my painting is to reveal, through the outer form of the subject, its inner life or 'mystery.'

I work mostly in portraiture, landscape and still-life.

Parallel to my paintings are the workshops I give on the 'Materials and Techniques of the Old Masters'. I give five-day workshops each month at the studios. As well as this I give regular workshops at 'The Conservatoire des Ochre' in south of France, I also offer a number of landscape painting workshops throughout the spring and summer in London and Provence.

studio: 6
website: www.davidcranswick.com
phone: 07801 430194

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