Artists Choose their Favorites: Nigel Fletcher

Nigel Fletcher was born in the English Cotswolds, but moved to the Limousin in 2010, where he happily paints each day in either his newly build studio or on location in the beautiful French countryside. Whatever his subject, Nigel's focus on the effects of light on his subject is both sensitive and masterful.

Nigel says "I have chosen two paintings from 2013 which appeal to me in different ways, an oil and a watercolour."

Camille's Pots watercolour 14" x 18"  2013 

I live in a small rural hamlet in France and my elderly neighbour Camille lives in a very small almost delapidated building nearby, he works his garden, gathers food from the woods and cuts leather for the nearby glove making factory, and always has a smile and friendly word to say when I see him. When you enter his house you walk into a time wharp, his kitchen looks like it could do with a Spring clean and a lick of paint, but no, it's fine! it suits him. I've painted his kitchen from several angles and for this one I was keen to paint the otherwise dull looking pots and pans in a way that reflected Camilles happy disposition. 

Sarah's Sink No 4  oil  8" x 6"  2013

It seems I'm facinated by people's kitchens! 

I've painted this many times too, I love the utilitarian feel of this simple tap and sink, the scruffy flaky paintwork and the plain white tiles, and the almost monochromatic colours in contrast to "Camille's Pots". The sunlight was streaming in through the decrepit window onto the plain white tiles and bouncing into the sink itself. It no longer exists, I visited Sarah later in the year and her husband has upgraded the kitchen and the sink and tiles are banished to the rubbish heap! ...the perception of beauty is subjective!

Nigel Fletcher has two blogs, one he calls his French Sketchbook which focuses primarily on his work, and Cotswold Sketchbook, which is about his life in France. You can view his larger paintings at his website, and read last year's post about his favorite paintings of 2012.

The current theme is Artists Who Blog- Favorites of 2013. Chosen artists have sent in one or two of their favorite paintings from the past year, along with some words about the creation of the work, or about new directions and goals. There will be a fresh post each day for twenty five days, so check back often.