The South African Artist – July 2019

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Lesley’s cottage and studio are on a sugarcane and macadamia nut
farm, which she describes as peaceful and secluded. “I am surrounded
by comforting farmyard sounds. My studio has good natural lighting,
and it is spacious enough to leave my painting equipment out - ready
to use at any time. My working day starts at 8am until 12 noon. I then
take a 2 hour break for lunch and a rest, and then resume painting
until about 5pm.”

Preparation of her painting surface is done with a coat of PVA, tinted
with acrylic colours, to create a grey or khaki ground colour. “I spend
a long time drawing my image, either in charcoal or pencil. Winsor
and Newton and Gamblin are my oil paints of choice, and I use
Windsor and Newton Liquin or fast-drying linseed oil as my mediums,
sometimes mixed with genuine turps. I finish off my paintings with a
coat of Liquin.”

Lesley’s paintings always consist of four stages:

1. The drawing stage which is meticulously completed.


2. The underpainting.


3. Perfecting the detail.


4. Glazing with Liquin to even out the shine and deepen tone.

In 2017, she entered the National Sanlam Portrait Award, and made

the top 100 selection. Her goal is to make it into the top 40, and

so she will continue to participate. Her work is promoted via social

media, and for this she enures that her paintings are photographed

professionally by talented young photographer, Lisa Woest, who is

based in Durban.

In 2018 Lesley had her first Solo show at Rust En Vrede Gallery in

Durbanville, entitled Consequences. She has continued to participate

in group shows at Rust En Vrede Gallery and also recently showed work

at IS Art Gallery in Franschoek, Dorp Straat Gallery in Stellenbosch,

State Of The Art Gallery in Cape Town and RK Contemporary Gallery in

Riebeek Kasteel. She is also a member of the KZNSA and participates

in their Members' exhibition every year.

http://www.lesleyirelandmathew.com | e-mail: [email protected]

Instagram: lesleyirelandmathew | Facebook: Lesley Ireland Mathew Art

in the paintbox

I use a basic palette from which I mix all other colours:

Alizarin

Vermillion

Lemon Yellow

Cad Yellow

Cerulean

Ultramarine

Lamp Black

Titanium White

A few other favourites are:

Magenta Raw Sienna Viridian Green

Below:
Commodity
35 x 40 cm
oil on board

Top right:

Pumpkin

30 cm round

oil on canvas

Right:

Onions

40 cm round

oil on canvas