How Cornwall’s Coastlines Shape My Seascapes Prints
I have always loved the ocean. Since I was a child, I loved spending every second of my holiday in or next to the ocean. Being from the outskirts of London it was the highlight of my year coming down to Cornwall. The county stole my heart at a very young age.
When I got older, I always knew I wanted to live in Cornwall so when I met my husband, I couldn’t wait to start showing him my place of escape, the golden shorelines and turquoise seas that wash away any stress or worries. I feel so grateful that he loved it as much as I did, and the fact we get to call it home now is a dream come true.
Cornwall’s coastlines continually inspire me and my work, not being able to feel that sense of calm and peace that they give me was why I started painting them. With the Covid 19 lockdown restrictions I couldn't reach them, so I brought them to me in home. That is what I aim to do with all my work now, to bring the tranquillity of the ocean to people wherever they are.
Walking along the blustery coast paths, turning a corner and discovering a new cove or bay is exhilarating. I instantly want to study it, both from the shore and using my drone from above. Feeling the sand between my toes and gathering washed up treasures to infuse into the painting, studying the rock formations and shape of the clifftops. But most of all is studying the colours in the water and watching the waves form and break. Different every day and at different times of the day, a constantly evolving form of inspiration.
I still pinch myself that I get to do this every day now. I studied art and design at college but focused on fashion for my degree and career path, the act of painting falling away with the busyness of life. If I hadn’t picked up my old paintbrushes during the Covid 19 lockdown I wouldn’t be here, running my business, painting my love for Cornwall on canvases of all types.
My bamboo prints are another extension of that love, not only allowing me to bring my work to more people but also allowing me to do it in a sustainable way. My Cornwall based fine art printers use a state-of-the-art v3d scanner to scan all my original paintings, allowing all the depth and texture of my work to shine through. It’s hard to tell the difference between the original and the print most of the time!!
I spend many, many hours building the texture in my pieces, trying to represent the momentum and power of the waves. Using repurposed materials such as fibreglass offcuts from surfboard manufacturing, I can sculpt the crest of the wave, so it appears to roll off the canvas towards the viewer. I was passionate that I wanted my prints to represent that texture and I am so proud that they do.
One of my favourites must be ‘Carbis Bay Shoreline’ my ode to the beautiful bay in St Ives. The original painting is hanging in The Ugly Butterfly Restaurant in Carbis Bay Hotel, one of Adam Handlings gastronomic hot spots. Using texture to build the waves breaking on the shoreline, all the depth and shadow in the original painting shine through.
Carbis Bay Shoreline
Another one of my most popular prints is ‘Line Up At Watergate’ which has a much more subtle level of texture, but the bright hues of turquoise from the original painting come across just as bold in the prints, the little surfers riding the wave just as clearly as the painting. With the original piece, which was on display in Watergate Bay Hotel, now sold the print enables more people to enjoy this piece.
Line Up At Watergate Print
A work that has been viewed by lots of people, due to it being used in Spaceport Cornwall, is ‘Fistral Blues’. A large-scale painting originally, with lots of built up texture to represent the big, messy swells that are seen at Fistral Beach in Newquay, the prints are a much easier size to hang in most people’s homes. But even scaled down in size, the shadows and sandy texture within the waves can be seen in all its glory.
Fistral Blues Print
This piece was blown up to a 15 metre by 9 metre print that was used in the integration facility in Spaceport Cornwall, shown on ITV news, BBC news, Sky News and all major news channels across the globe. A very proud moment for me.
These are just a small selection of my work that is available as limited-edition bamboo prints, and I hope as I keep creating and evolving my style and texture the print collection will grow. I am aiming to study more iconic Cornish shorelines, bringing their tranquillity and beauty to people in their homes. By supporting my artistic ode to the Cornish coastlines, you are also helping to protect its natural beauty for generations to come, with a donation being made to various ocean and environmental conservation charities with every sale. From Surfers Against Sewage to Ecologi, who help me plant a tree for every pound I donate.
If you’d like to view more, check out my full prints collection or contact me via gemmalessingerart@gmail.com to discuss a bespoke print project such a wall mural like the one used in Spaceport Cornwall. I am always open to trying working on projects and collaborations.
Gemma
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