Oenone Hammersley’s Inspiration and Techniques:

I have always taken inspiration for my work directly from nature, both in its abundance and fragility.  Most of my previous work focused on rain forest wildlife and flora. During my extensive travels, I photographed and sketched in preparation for these watercolour and gouache paintings on paper. My most recent work has focused on natural resources, particularly water. From an artist’s perspective, I love the way water changes and the patterns that are created as light falls on this elemental substance.

Some of my work is oil on canvas but most is mixed media either on canvas or carved wood panels. Incorporating acrylic with glass beads, mirrors, sand, shells, discarded objects and gel, texture is delivered to the surface. My paintings are finished with resin that creates a lustrous finish that gives the paintings a greater water effect. For some pieces, I pour paint onto the canvas or wood panels, leaving blank areas for brushwork. While this process is tricky and difficult as the paint has a mind of its own, the results have been pleasing and well-received. In addition, I discovered a method allowing pours in sections and I also do very small pours using straws to blow the paint into the desired areas. You can view videos of these techniques on my Facebook page as well as on this website. The videos were taken in my studio in Virginia where I do most of my work.