Inside My Studio: From Blank Canvas to Finished Painting
A moment to pause and observe before making the next mark on this 80cm piece.
There is a distinct moment in an artist’s studio where excitement can meet absolute intimidation. For me, that moment happens when I stand in front of a giant, pristine 80cm×80cm board.
Jumping up to these large-scale hero pieces requires a massive energy shift. You can’t just paint them with your fingertips; you have to paint them with your whole body. But before a single brushstroke of colour even hits the surface, a lot of invisible work happens behind the scenes to make that creative leap possible.
Here’s a look inside my studio practice to see how these large contemporary paintings come to life.
The Invisible Work: How Structure Fuels My Studio Practice
When you look at a large-scale piece of art (or any size, really), the material it's painted on matters as much as the subject. While many contemporary artists work exclusively on stretched canvas, my heart belongs to wood and board.
The Weight of an Object: Painting on a custom-made cradle board with beautiful plywood edge details and a hidden aluminium structural frame (because if I’m going to take the trouble of painting something this big, I want it to be done with elegance and purpose). It stops being just a flat illusion hanging on a wall and becomes a physical, solid object with actual weight and architectural presence.
The Confidence of the Line: A hard surface allows for a different kind of resistance, which delivers a different kind of mark. When I am carving out lines or layering rich blocks of colour, the board holds its ground, allowing for bold, decisive marks.
Styling 'George & Jessie' (80cm×80cm). A large statement piece anchors the room and gives the eye a natural place to rest.
Styling Large Format Statement Art in Your Home
If you’ve ever been nervous about bringing a large 80cm statement piece into your home, here is my favourite piece of advice: don't be afraid to let it anchor the room.
A single, generous, large-format original painting actually makes a room feel bigger and more considered than a cluttered gallery wall of tiny prints.
It serves as an architectural statement in a room, offering the eye a beautiful place to rest and adding immediate depth and personality to traditional and modern interiors alike. (Now, don’t get me wrong—I do absolutely love a gallery wall, but I tend to tuck them into cosy corners that would otherwise be too awkward for a larger hero piece!)
Step Inside the Studio
Want to see these large-scale pieces as they develop on the easel?
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Browse the Original Art Archive: Explore the current collection of original paintings on board and find a statement hero piece for your own space.