“Keep Going”, by Anna Schofield is a contemporary art piece that inspires you to dream a little longer during the day. As a depiction of a sunset, it derives vivid hues of yellows, pinks, and oranges to set to the sky ablaze. Spectacular colour is brought to life in the sky above, but also reflected in the waters below.
Anna Schofield showcases immense talent for distinguishing the sky from the earth below by featuring soft lines in the sky with more tangible textural elements below. This distinction gives the piece more depth and control, providing the viewer with a clearer indication of what is taking place within the bounds of the canvas. The rich texture expands not only to the water reflecting the sky, but also on its banks. Hints of floral are indicated by bold colour choices at the water’s edge.
Oil paintings can be difficult to manage, but Anna Schofield has done an impressive job of distinguishing each part while providing amazing light and movement to the piece. We can almost feel the flow of the water and its thrashing against the shore. The symbiotic relationship between the heavens and earth below are captured beautifully by a notably skilled hand in New Wave.
We can wonder, where is this “Keep Going” taking us? What could the future hold for each element of the painting? The deeper the viewer looks into this piece, the more in depth and involved they become. There is always another element to behold and another site to be seen, but what does Anna Schofield herself have to say about New Wave?
Was Keep Going a carefully planned out piece, or did it manifest more organically?
This piece was manifested more organically. I have been working on a commission and played with the light on a bigger scale using a slightly different colour palette. Keep Going was created not long after and it was a natural need to paint it.
What specific elements were you working to bring to life along the banks of the shoreline in this piece?
I have used reel sand mixed with oil paint to create a unique texture. Strong contrast is equally important hence the colour choice.
Do you remember exactly what you were feeling while painting Keep Going?
I resonate with colourful sunsets. When I can I tend to watch them as long as I can, almost taking in all the changes. When I paint light these vivid colours just come back almost instantly. When I was painting the piece I was naturally responding to what my memories ‘telling me to paint’.
There are some unique textures on both sides of the canvas. What did you use to achieve those?
As mentioned before, yes there are unique textures.There is a blend of polyfilla, real sand and oil paint.
When you paint a piece, like Keep Going, how do you know it is finished? What was the last element added to this particular piece?
Leonardo da Vinci said “Artwork is never finished, only abandoned”. I agree with that completely. I keep adding the layers until I feel the painting makes me feel a certain way. The last element added was a shadow on the horizon line. If I left the piece for a year in my studio I would definitely add something more to it later. It’s a natural process of ‘growing as an artist’ therefore the artwork as abandoned.
What draws you to contemporary art as opposed to other areas of painting?
Contemporary art is very suggestive, allows you to play with various textures, mixing alternative mediums, basically creating without boundaries. It is a great way for me to have fun when I paint as some parts just naturally emerge, I don’t plan them. Long time ago I used to paint more realistic artworks and that way of painting didn’t allow me to express myself fully.
Where do you see Keep Going being most comfortable? Where would you like to see it hanging?
I think it would work great on the wall in the bedroom adding some warmth to the room.
Why do you believe oil was the best medium for Keep Going? Would it have the same feeling if another medium had been used?
I have always known or felt that I will be painting mainly in oils. For me this medium has a much wider range of colours and allows me to play with mixing colours to achieve so much diversity. I don’t think I could achieve the same effect using different mediums.
View Anna Schofield Gallery
