Beneath Shadowed Woods
Gillian Lee Smith
September – October
“The hope that the seasons offer … Even in a seemingly dormant state, changes are happening underneath and in a while, everything will come to life again” A note from my sketchbook – January 2021.
The inspiration for Beneath Shadowed Woods began during 2020 – a time few of us will forget. Moving to a new house in a small village with an ancient woodland, this was where I would walk almost daily. I would then return home and paint into sketchbooks at my dining table before I was able to return to my studio. I would spend hours just painting layers and layers, trying to capture the feeling and atmosphere of the woodland and something of the experience of that time. Then came Storm Arwen later in 2021 and the devastation of the woodland and forests in Northumberland and beyond. The impact on our landscape was clear for all to see. The tiny scrap of woodland in my village, like many others, changed dramatically.
Though these paintings feel dark in nature, to me they reflect the beautiful, earthy, mysterious atmosphere of the woodland and undergrowth. Where trees offer us the opportunity to feel as rooted and grounded as they are. A chance to pause, observe, connect with nature and ourselves.
