talk about art – Emma Cownie

Posted on April 17, 2015September 5, 2018 by emma cownie — 1 Comment

Ice cream with Nan and Bampi

Painting of family in Brynmill Park, Swansea

A new oil painting – 40 x 50cm – “Ice cream with Nan and Bampi” – this people portrait is a snapshot of life in Brynmill, Swansea where I live. This is a refreshments kiosk in the picturesque Brynmill Park where we can see two grandparents, after the school run, treating their grand child to an afternoon ice cream.

I love the colours in the painting, they remind me of the bright bold colours of Ladybird books from my childhood. I am especially proud of the movement in the figures I think I managed to achieve; the caring consideration towards the grandchild illustrated in the movement of the grand parents. Bampi is a slang name in South Wales for Grandad.

Posted on April 13, 2015September 5, 2018 by emma cownie — 4 Comments

Brynmill from Swansea Beach

“Brynmill from Swansea Beach” is a new painting of the area of Brynmill in Swansea, “from the beach” – it is not actually from the beach as such as the image that inspired this painting was shot from Swansea Marina using a telescopic lens.

At the top of the hill is Brynmill Primary School, with the Patti Pavilion in the foreground. I love how the terraced houses perched on hills, a Welsh motif, slide down to the beach. It is as if the cwtched houses are all sunbathing and happy to be at the seaside.

Posted on April 2, 2015September 5, 2018 by emma cownie — Leave a comment

The “Street” Series

I really loved painting this Triptych of elderly people walking in the street. Two are sold already, both from Carmarthen. The gentleman in the middle having his “Afternoon Trundle” is from Swansea. I like this type of painting because we have a tendency to give this type of painting a “back story”, where are they going and where and who have they come from or going to. We superimpose our feelings onto these elderly figures. I find I have much affection for them all, which may be because they all look like nans and grandads, our nans and grandads. I have an affinity with them, out excitedly on the way to shops, the sun sending glad tidings into their bones. All excited to be out on their afternoon quests. As they walk purposely into the facing sun, it gives the impression they all have plenty of life in them.

Posted on March 13, 2015September 4, 2018 by emma cownie — Leave a comment

Tree by the Brook

Here is my latest oil painting – “Tree by the Brook” – 60 x 80cm – £395.

Email if interested in buying.

beech by the brook — Beech by the Brook (SOLD)

This is the latest in a series of oil paintings, based loosely on my refractionist style, of a wood in an area of the Gower Peninsula called Ilston. This painting is of a green moss coated tree, lit by the low lying rich winter light, whose roots plunge into and drink from Ilston Brook.

I love winter light more than any other light and how it’s eye filling light illuminates the barks of trees. How it casts mist greys and pinky, purple pastel hues into the background light.

Posted on March 12, 2015February 14, 2020 by emma cownie — 7 Comments

It’s All About Me!

Emma Cownie Exhibition — Me at the Glynn Vivian, Swansea

I was born in Hereford, and educated in Cardiff. I am a professional artist, specializing in oil paintings of the landscapes of Wales and Donegal, Ireland. I have exhibited in various galleries, online galleries, in print and on digital LED screens throughout London, UK.

I have one of the top best selling artists on Artfinder over the last five years and have sold widely on other online galleries. I have sold hundreds of pieces of artwork online. I have had hundreds of happy collectors and my artwork hangs in homes across the world and in numerous countries.

I love light and colour. In my art, I am drawn to light and shadows and how they shape our emotions. I remember visiting the South of France as a teenager and being mesmerized by the dazzling light, I have been attempting to capture that excitement about light in my paintings ever since.

I try and make my colours bold and bright but as realistic as possible. I aim to make people look at the ordinary and see the extraordinary beauty in it.

I offer a personalised approach to art for business and I sell affordable, original and limited edition artworks to companies, such as John Lewis, across the globe.

Whether you would like a single piece for your office or boardroom, or are looking for larger numbers for a hotel or restaurant chain, I can help provide the right art for you.

The paintings are wrapped securely in bubble wrap and cardboard packaging. All paintings also have a Certificate of Authenticity. Most of my paintings are sold unframed. This is to lower delivery costs. If the paintings have been framed it will be stated.

In my paintings the effect of light is often ‘heightened’ and similar to the sophisticated, precise ‘Pixar’ like animated light. I seek to paint the ‘experience’ of light on colour and form.

Donegal Painting — From Cruit Island, Ireland

To achieve this requires the heightening of the effect of light otherwise light can often be dampened or subdued by the absorbing colours. I am much more interested in how light invigorates, resonates, generates or dare I say it animates colour and form, rather than simply dressing it. This effect is underscored by my use of drawing lines around colours and form, as with the fauvists, and others have suggested this too gives off an animated feel or quality.

Over To The Lighthouse And Pier — Over to the light house and Pier (Mumbles)

I want colour to be the product of being generated, animated by light as if light was the genesis of colour. Thus light creates the colour in a sense rather than colour simply being illuminated by it.