tHeader row 1 column 1Header row 1 column 2Header row 1 column 3Header row 1 column 4Header row 2 column 1Header row 2 column 2Header row 2 column 3Header row 2 column 4 Background graphic row 2 column 1Background graphic row 3 column 2Background graphic row 3 column 3Background graphic row 3 column 4 Background graphic row 4 column 1Background graphic row 4 column 2Background graphic row 4 column 3Background graphic row 4 column 4Background graphic row 5 column 1Background graphic row 5 column 2Background graphic row 5 column 3Background graphic row 5 column 4

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

The Fiddler (2007)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.

The Fiddler (2007)

Studio Space

Joy painting in the studioMy 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.

Joy painting in the studio

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

'Medieval Alley 2'

  • 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
'Medieval Alley 2' (2004)'

Forthcoming Events

'The Flute Player'

 

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.

'The Flute Player' (Diptych, 2007)

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'Blue Sky Reflections'

E-mail: joy@joydeberker.com

Phone: (01225) 891730

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

 

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''Blue Sky Reflections'(2007)'
'Autumn Afternoon, Fuddlebrook'
'Great Moody's Wood'
'Autumn Morning, Fuddlebrook Hill'
'Distant view with mist-filled valleys'
'Haybales in Moonlight'
'Late Winter View, Hydes Lane'
'Blue frost at Clift Brake'
'The Old Barn', 2006
'Little Moody's Wood'
'Mist Rising From Frosty Valley, Colerne'
'Snowfall', 2006
'Winter Garden', 2005
'Winter's Day, Bathampton
'Summer Reflections, Bathampton
'Autumn Afternoon, Fuddlebrook'
'Autumn Afternoon, Fuddlebrook' (2005)
80cm x 60cms, oil on board, limed wood frame. £420
'Great Moody's Wood'
'Autumn Morning, Fuddebrook Hill' (2006)
64cm x 64cms, oil on board, limed wood frame.SOLD
'Autumn Morning, Fuddebrook Hill'
'Great Moody's Wood' (2005)
81cm x 87cm, oil on canvas, limed wood frame. £520
'Distant View with Mist-filled Valleys'
'Distant View with Mist-filled Valleys' (2006)
44cm x 59cm, oil on board. SOLD
'Haybales in Moonlight'
'Haybales in Moonlight' (2005)
80cm x 60cm, oil on board. £400
'Late Winter View, Hydes Lane'
'Late Winter View, Hydes Lane' (2006)
60cm x 47cm, oil on board. SOLD
'Blue frost at Clift Brake', 2006
'Blue frost at Clift Brake' (2006)
60cm x 60cm, Oil on board. Weathered wood frame.SOLD
'The Old Barn', 2006
'The Old Barn' (2006)
60cm x 60cm, Oil on board. SOLD
'Little Moody's Wood, Cold Ashton'
'Little Moody's Wood, Cold Ashton'
52cm x 70cm, oil on board. £420
'Mist Rising From Frosty Valley, Colerne'
'Mist Rising From Frosty Valley, Colerne'
60cm x 70cm, oil on board. £450
'Snowfall' (2006)
'Snowfall' (2006)
44cm x 59cm, oil on board. Limed wood frame. £490
'Winter Garden' (2005)
'Winter Garden' (2005)
61cm x 67cm, oil on board. Limed wood frame. £500
'Winter's Day, Bathampton'
'Winter's Day, Bathampton'
46cm x 60cm, oil on board. Limed wood frame. £425
'Summer Reflections, Bathampton'
'Summer Reflections, Bathampton'
59cm x 59cms, oil on board.SOLD
'A Break in the Clouds, S.W.Ireland (2007)'
'Estuary at Aberdovey' (2007)
'Cloud Break'
'Departing Clouds'
'Departing Sea'
'Morning Tide'
'Sea Path'
'White Sea under Dark Cloud'
'Sea Fragments with Gulls'
'Wading Birds' (2007)
'Waves Breaking on Rocks, South West Ireland' (2007)
'A Break in the Clouds, S.W.Ireland' (2007)
'A Break in the Clouds, S.W.Ireland' (2007)
29cm x 29cm, oil on board. SOLD
'Estuary at Aberdovey' (2007)
'Estuary at Aberdovey' (2007)
39cm x 48cm, oil on board. £350
'Cloud Break'
'Cloud Break' (2007)
29cm x 24cm, oil on paper, mounted, limed.SOLD
'Departing Clouds'
'Departing Clouds' (2007)
20cm x 27cm, oil on paper, mounted limed wood frame. SOLD
'Departing Sea'
'Departing Sea' (2007)
20cm x 19cm, oil on board, limed wood frame. £145
'Morning Tide'
'Morning Tide' (2007)
30x22cm, oil on board, limed wood frame.SOLD
'Sea Fragments' (2007)
'Sea Fragments' (2007)
46cm x 56cm, oil on canvas. £300
'Sea Path'
'Sea Path' (2007)
20cm x 26cm, oil on paper, limed wood frame. SOLD
'Quiet Cove' (2007)
'Quiet Cove' (2007)
39cm x 48cm, oil on board. SOLD
'Sea Fragments with Gulls' (2007)
'Sea Fragments with Gulls' (2007)
46cm x 54cm, oil on canvas. £450
'Wading Birds' (2007)
'Wading Birds' (2007)
38cm x 42cm, oil on board. £350
'Waves Breaking on Rocks, South West Ireland' (2007)
'Waves Breaking on Rocks, South West Ireland' (2007)
29cm x 29cm. SOLD
'Boy on the Verandah'
'Cherry Trees'
'Girl in a Garden'
'Medieval Alley'
'Medieval Alley 2'
'Boy on the Verandah'
'Cherry Trees'
'Girl in a Garden'
'Medieval Alley'
'Medieval Alley 2'
'Sea-scape with Pears'
'Still life with Golden Apple'
'Terracotta and Blue'
'Still Life by Moonlight'
'Sea-scape with Pears'
'Still life with Golden Apple'
'Terracotta and Blue'
'The Flute Player'
'Lamentation with Guitar'
'Sorrowful Song'
'The Drummers'
'The Fiddler'
'Singing Drummers' (2007)
'The Singers' (2007)
'The Flute Player'
'The Flute Player' (Diptych, 2007)
82cm x 61cm, oil on board, painted moulding frame. £560
'Lamentation with Guitar'
'Lamentation with Guitar' (2007)
39cm x 49cm, oil on board, dark wood frame. £500
 'Sorrowful Song'
'Sorrowful Song' (2007)
49cm x 40cm, oil on board, dark wood frame. £500
'The Drummers'
'The Drummers' (2007)
59cm x 54cm, oil on board, limed wood frame. £560
'The Fiddler'
'The Fiddler' (2007)
50cm x 60cm, oil on board, painted moulding frame. £525
'The Harpist'
'The Harpist' (2007)
59cm x 59cm, oil on board, painted moulding frame. £420
'Singing Drummers' (2007)
'Singing Drummers' (2007)
20cm x 20cm, chalk on paper. £125
'The Singers' (2007)
'The Singers' (2007)
18cm x 21cm, chalk on paper. £120
'Chickens'
'In the Hen House'
'Cat Conversation' (2007)
'Girl Holding a Hen' (2007)
'Hens Amongst the Beans' (2007)
'Jungle Fowl' (2007)
'Chickens'
'Chickens' (2006)
30cm x 34cm, oil on board, limed wood frame.SOLD
'In the Hen House'
'Cat Conversation' (2007)
'Cat Conversation' (2007)
33cm x 42cm, oil on board. £300
'Girl Holding a Hen' (2007)
'Girl Holding a Hen' (2007)
31cm x 37cm, oil on board.SOLD
'Hens Amongst the Beans' (2007)
'Hens Amongst the Beans' (2007)
29cm x 29cm, oil on board. £300
'Jungle Fowl' (2007)
'Jungle Fowl' (2007)
29cm x 29cm, oil on board. £280

Telephone 01225 891730

Email joy@joydeberker.com

All text and images copyright © Joy de Berker 2007-08 · Website designed by Graham Boston.