Introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your practice?

I’m Elaine Kazimierczuk, I paint as a means of making interpretations the natural world. My landscapes are often described as abstract although I think all painting is, in a sense, abstract. Painters use their own vocabulary of gestural marks to generate works that others read meaning into. I tap into the interplay of patterns of light and energy that I see around me, to create a sense of the disorder and wild beauty of the natural world. Mostly I use a red ground to give vibrancy to the greens and yellows of the over-painting, often causing a strident effect. The natural world is often very brash and I want to get that over in my work. Painting was something I always wanted to do, and very nearly never did, so now I have a lot of time to make up. I’m pretty driven, in my studio most days, using the wonderful space to best advantage.

What are you currently working on?

I’m working on a series of triptychs and diptychs of hedgerows. I like the panels to show a continuity but also have separate identity. I’m working on a large scale so that the result is a more immersive experience.

How do you spend your time when you are at the studios?

When I’m at my studio, I’m either making canvases, preparing them or using them. I take photos and make sketches outdoors and then work these up to large scale in the studio setting. I usually make several rapid sketches to loosen the drawing process so that unselfconscious mark-making takes over.

What are your other (work) commitments if any?

As Robert Graves said ‘the muses demand full-time service’ and I’m lucky that I can do just that.

How does having a studio at Magdalen road support your work?

I’ve got a large studio which allows me to work and think big.

What are you hoping to achieve over the next year?

Bigger, bolder, braver work.