Inspirations

Art, music, poetry and literature that are rooted in the landscape have always been my great loves since early childhood. So too is the countryside, whether by the sea, inland or in a garden. The minutiae and the distant view through the changing seasons are a continual source of inspiration. A positive emotional connection to my surroundings often becomes a point of artistic departure.
People, known or imagined who are absorbed in an activity or contemplation; loved objects or animals also provide a rich resource of ideas and images. A feeling may be triggered simply by a shape, form, or texture. Sometimes the colour or quality of light as it passes over and between objects can lend a particular mood and atmosphere.

I enjoy playing with these initial responses and ideas and try to use colours and materials freely, loosening the tie to reality a little whilst hopefully not impairing the initial motif.

I keep a simple garden of just over an acre, with a meadow, fruit trees, many perennial flowers and shrubs, trees and a few chickens, ducks and doves to add to the two cats and dog. On daily walks through the countryside I find a sense of peace and connectedness with the natural world. This is an essential starting point for creating pictures; a reality from which I strive to make a harmonious, though not always comfortable world.

Influences

At present I am most interested in the works of Ben Nicholson and the artists of St. Ives. The freedom of being inspired by nature or a still life, and taking key elements that move you, and presenting them in an abstract or simplified form and experimenting with the surface texture lends a certain vigour and simplicity to the painting process.

The Bloomsbury group, Stanley Spencer, Dora Carrington, Gwen John, Gaugin, Picasso and Bonnard have all been influential through their contributions to the joys of conveying light, form, colour, line and texture.

Stone carving, ceramics, textiles, basketry, woodwork and stained glass are all mediums that I find beautiful and artistically stimulating. I also greatly enjoy the land art works of Andy Goldsworthy and the sculptures of Eric Gill.

Studio Space

My home at Fuddlebrook Cottage is situated down a quiet country lane near the village of Marshfield at the boundary of three shires, (Somerset, Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire). It is an old, stone farm worker’s cottage at the end of a terrace of four.

The lane leads in to the beautiful St. Catherine’s valley, from which many footpaths and bridleways lead. The sights, smells and sounds of the countryside surround the room where I work.

Creation

Before commencing a new series of paintings, I often have a period of quiet contemplation, walking the countryside near my home or further afield, photographing new subject matter or working through thoughts and ideas on paper when I return. Usually I am clear from the start what size the pictures will be, its surface, (paper, canvas or board), and the colour ground from which I want to begin. Priming, this first layer, and the subsequent rubbing on of darkening layers of mixed acrylic or oil colours are very important to developing the initial composition. Having five or six pictures working simultaneously helps me to clarify the different qualities I want each individual picture to possess.

Using soft or stiff brushes, graphite blocks, pencils, soft and rough cloths, sandpaper and various scratching tools, a process of building up and taking away takes place until the composition, tone and colour vibrancy feels right to me.

If an image comes to my mind already formed, this process can be very quick. Other paintings seem to go through endless transformations and it can be quite an agonising procedure. Taking the risk of possibly losing an image by pushing it about, and expressing what you truly want to express, is part of the struggle I continually face.

Biography

• Born Wimbledon, London, July 1956
• Education: London 1960-1973 (Specialised in Art, Music and English)
• Further Education - Chelsea School of Art - Foundation and Fine Art Degree 1973-1977
• Married 1977. Moved to Surrey, Wiltshire and then to present location in South Gloucestershire.
• Full time mother of 5 children 1979-1992
• Qualified Steiner Kindergarten teacher and Part–time Lecturer in Steiner Early Years at undergraduate and post-graduate level 1992-2004
• Full-time artist 2004-2007

Past Exhibitions 2004-2008

• Bath Society of Artists, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath.
• Demuths, Bath.
• Ginger Gallery, Bristol.
• Thin Dog Gallery, Cirencester.
• Castle Combe Gallery, Wiltshire
• Ginger Gallery, Bristol
• Demuths, Bath
• Ginger Gallery, Bristol
• Bath Society of Artists, Bath
• Demuths, Bath
• Ruskin Mill, Gloucestershire
• Wheat Paddock Barn, Bath
• Hobbs House Bakery, Gloucestershire
• Demuths, Bath

Forthcoming Events

May 23rd to August 23rd 2008: Demuths, 2 North Passage, Bath.

November 4th 2008 to Jan 4 2009: Star Anise Cafe, The Painswick Inn, Gloucester Street, Stroud, Gloucestershire.

January 23rd to March 3rd 2009: MissionArt, The Bistro Upstairs, 32 Corn Street, Bath BA1 1UF www.missiontheatre.co.uk

October to December 2009: Ruskin Mill, Nailsworth.

Testimonials

“Joy’s quiet painting of a hidden valley landscape brings us constant pleasure, capturing a timeless England in muted tones that soothe the soul.”

F. & J. Owen, Glos.

“I was drawn by the decorative rhythms painted in earthy colours and misty blues and greys. Joy gives a musical shape and form to the landscape and transforms what may be shaped by man”

A. S-W - Glos.

“I find the special quality of Joy’s paintings lies in the feminine, almost dreamy feeling they have. What I love the most is how they capture the light which gives the paintings certain radiance.”

L Rees - Hereford.

“I like the abstraction from nature that is inspired by the landscape. Joy uses soft, muted and harmonious colours and applies the paint in an un-laboured and free way”

S Latham - Wilts.

Contact

E-mail: joy@joydeberker.com

Phone: (01225) 891730

Address:
4, Fuddlebrook Cottages,
Ayford Lane, Marshfield,
South Gloucestershire
SN14 8AB.