View our specially commissioned poppy paintings at The Peppermill until Sun 13 Nov.
Barbara Sedassy
Barbara Sedassy is an eclectic painter who is deeply into stories; she celebrates colour and line and loves the way it sings together. Barbara studied at St Albans, Falmouth and Chelsea Schools of Art.
She draws movement, sunsets, cows, dancers, enjoys illustrating books and painting poppies made her especially happy.
“I started painting the flowers when the poppies were out in the garden and then forgot about them! Gardens are living paintings. Unconscious of the significance that of the people put on them. I just try to capture a moment in time.”
Barbara also brings to the POPpy UP SHOP three paintings from The Birchwood Painters, a group of artists she works every week who live at the Scope Home, Chesham.
Kathy Foster
Kathy did a degree in art when her three sons were at school and has been painting constantly ever since, using oil paint as her medium.
“ I enjoy familiar subjects like everyday objects and places, including old shoes, books and chairs but it was refreshing to paint poppies and a challenge as there are no poppies growing in autumn! I wanted to give a sense of the robust. I liked the idea of making the flowers strong rather than delicate and also wanted to get seedheads into the composition – which I could paint from life as there were some in the garden! Poppies can be long, straggly and quite untidy. I was hoping to portray that and that’s exactly how they have ended up! “
Mark Taylor
Mark is a freelance graphic artist who works in oils and enjoys painting in the open air, especially early morning or late afternoon when the light is interesting.
Mark’s favourite subject is the old oak tree on the Common near Shepherd’s Bridge and he chose to recreate one of his existing paintings of this, introducing a poppy theme.
“ I wanted to make it relate to all conflicts and liked the idea of making it a local tribute. This particular scene represents the subject well as there is a healthy tree standing right next to a fallen tree. The people are enjoying their freedom and the overall picture hints at the cost of conflict without being specific. I wanted to add a lot of red going into the distance.”
Barbara Green
Barbara Green has studied art history for many years but only started painting for herself five years ago, working mainly in acrylics.
“ I wanted to paint something striking but also meaningful in relation to the symbolic nature of the subject. I have tried to get some sense of the conflict of war by painting the background in a dark, sombre way whilst the beauty of the flowers in the foreground should draw people into the picture. I deliberately made runs of vivid red paint to symbolise drips of blood.”
Barbara Robjant
Barbara Robjant has been painting for 10 years, primarily abstract and figurative work using oils and acrylics.
“Colour is the thing which inspires me, so my work tends to be semi-abstract, mainly landscapes and seascapes.
With poppies as the main theme of this painting obviously the strong colours they evoke will be central.”
Barnaby Jackson
Barnaby can be frequently spotted around Chorleywood poised behind his easel capturing the landscape in paint. He paints mainly in watercolour.
“For my artistic contribution towards Chorleywood Magazine’s inspired pop-up poppy project I’ll be producing artwork on paper or canvas in exciting, vivid colour and line. I will endeavour to capture the rich panoply of warmth of feeling that communities generate in remembrance.
This project advocates artistic interpretation of a challenging but [inter]nationally important broader topic. The evolving threats of more conflict are real and present, which is why I support the practice and sharing of arts and culture as tools for self-enlightenment & informing democratic free-will.”