We would like to extend our warmest welcome to new gallery artist, Mark S Payne. We are
absolutely delighted to be showcasing Mark S Payne original paintings at Carnes Fine Art.
Born in Luton, Mark studied technical and scientific illustration for four years. After graduation he became a member of the Society of Illustrators, Artists and Designers (SIAD). Since then, he has had a full and demanding 33 year career as a full-time artist and illustrator, producing work for numerous national and international publishers, advertising agencies and galleries.
Mark works with oils, using a variation of the early painting technique known as ‘Grisaille’, a practice used by many of the old masters. Generally, it starts with a monochrome under-painting, usually in shades of grey or ochre, on a white surface. Once fully dry, it is painted over with successive layers of transparent colour known as ‘glazes’. Each new glaze changes the optical qualities of the layers beneath, resulting in a richness and purity of colour that is otherwise very hard to achieve.
The technique is time-consuming as it’s essential that each glaze is allowed to dry thoroughly before the next is applied. This method of applying colour has some important advantages over the traditional method of mixing colours with an opaque base.
It is generally accepted that the most beautiful qualities of a colour are in its transparent state, applied over a white background. This is because transparent colour is seen by the viewer as if back-lit, with light reflecting back through the paint from the white surface behind it. This is in contrast with opaque paint, which simply reflects light off the uppermost surface. Using opaque paint results in a surface that you look onto, whereas the use of transparent glazes results in a richly glowing, glass-like surface that you look into. Mark has adapted this venerable technique to suit the modern subjects of his paintings.
We are delighted to be collaborating with Mark, brand new works are now available and on display in the gallery, please do not hesitate to contact us for further assistance.
