Pastel by Kerry Johnstone
Cherry Blossom
Kerry Johnstone
I’ve always loved painting and drawing but it was very much on the backburner until I left a career in the Civil Service in 2016. Along the way, I managed snatches of time, most notably when my first child was very young, painting in the local park. Since leaving a secure and reliable job (!), I’ve been tentatively making the transition to ‘Artist’.
I continue to focus on painting what I see outside. I work in pencil, pastel, watercolour, and acrylic, and aim to capture what I see honestly, celebrating views that often don’t get much attention, such as those along Devon country lanes. I also love a good walk on Dartmoor – open moorland, craggy rocks, and gnarly trees are subjects I never tire of. I’m also drawn to the southwest coast, and the wonderful way that water meets land.
I find myself working increasingly with strong tonal contrasts. Some of my work is quite moody but it’s a means to an end. To find the light, there must be some darkness. Having said that, there is an unsurprising abundance of green in my work.
Cherry blossom behind old stone ruin
Pastel
27x41cm
Framed