Artist's Statement:
I enjoy painting both still-life and the figure and have recently started painting horses during this lockdown (they have become my new figure/portrait subject). No matter what my subject, I endeavour to achieve a good drawing followed by capturing the way that light and shadow fall over a face or figure to convey form. With still-life, I like the way light can convey mood and can transform everyday objects from the mundane to the beautiful.
Method of Working:
This can depend on how I feel at the time. Sometimes I just want to get going with little preparation. At other times, I do a lot more planning and preparatory work. I might start with compositional studies/notans moving on to a detailed drawing. Sometimes, I do small poster studies to decide on the colour and value range to convey a mood. Although this sounds lengthy, it can ultimately save me a great deal of time on the finished piece.
Biographical Details:
I graduated from Norwich School of Art in1980. I started working as a portrait painter 25 years ago working in both oil paint and pastels. The painting of still-life enabled me to move away from solely commissioned work and get gallery representation. I am well known locally as a tutor and demonstrator. I have always been keen to improve my skills and have attended many workshops during my career including Daniel Greene, Nelson Shanks, Robert Liberace and Sally Strand who have all been a great source of inspiration. I have also been fortunate to have taught and mentored by Gareth Hawker, a British Portrait painter.Liz Balkwill graduated from Norwich School of Art in 1980. She has been working as a professional portrait painter for the past 15 years and has been gaining a steady reputation for her still-life paintings in both oils and pastel.
Liz has painted a number of notable portrait commissions and has exhibited at the Mall Galleries with the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, ROI, SWA and the Pastel Society.
Society Memberships:
The Pastel Society.
Other Society Memberships:
Institute of East Anglia Artists (Full member since 2014)
Guild of Norwich Painters (Full member since 2013)
Armed Forces Art Society (Full member since 2010)
Scholarships, Awards, Prizes
• The President's Prize, Norfolk & Norwich Art Circle, 2009
• The SCS Prize for best small work, Armed Forces Art Society (AFAS), 2009
• St Cuthberts Mill Award, AFAS, 2010
• Highly commended SAA Artist of the Year, 2011
• Herring Easel Prize, ROI, 2013
• Unison Award, Pastel Society, 2013
• Society Prize for Painting, AFAS, 2013
• Pan Pastel Prize, Pastel Society 2015
• W & N award for non-member ROI 2016
• Buzzacott Award, Pastel society 2019
• Best in Show Award, Institute of East Anglian Artists, 2019.
Exhibitions:
Liz’s work is currently being exhibited in the following galleries:
Mandell’s Gallery (Norwich, Norfolk)
Westcliffe Gallery (Sheringham, Norfolk)
Vilas Fine Art, Letchworth
Thompson’s Gallery, Aldeburgh.
She is a regular contributor at the Mall Galleries with the ROI and the Pastel Society, and has shown with SWA and the Royal Society of Portrait Painter
Publications:
Liz has written and contributed to features in the Artist’s and Illustrators Magazine
