MAUREEN BLACKHALL/ SELECTED ARTWORK / BIOGRAPHY / ARTIST STATEMENT/ INTERVIEW / PAST EXHIBITIONS
Maureen Blackhall - Interview
La Playa Gallery: Hi! Thanks for taking the time to talk with us. Can you tell us your name, where you live and a little bit about your past?
Maureen Blackhall: My name is Maureen Blackhall and I live in Point Loma. I have been painting in oils for about 10 years.
LPG: Can you give us a brief overview of the work you create?
MB: I paint landscapes, working with subjects that I know from yesterday and today to tell my story.
LPG: How and when did you get started?
MB: I always painted in watercolor until my niece, Melanie, introduced me to oils and I love them. I love the thick paint and textures I can build with oils.
LPG: What motivates you to create new work?
MB: I am continually motivated by the landscape around me. I take hundreds of photographs when I see something I like and always have a bank of subjects ready to paint.
LPG: Is there a specific series you are currently creating and what is the inspiration behind it?
MB: I am starting a series of paintings of backyard birds. I love watching the birds at the feeders, on the beach and in the mountains.
LPG: What is the most indispensable item in your studio?
MB: Lots of brushes and lots of light!
LPG: Do you have a routine you follow for creating or only work when inspiration hits?
MB: I paint at specific times during the week and stick to a specific schedule. I paint for 2-3 hours at a time and then walk away for at least a half hour. This gives me a fresh look when I come back.
LPG: Do you collect anything and does it influence your work?
MB: I collect pottery, sea shells, glass and toys. I use the colors in my work but not the items. The lines and shapes in nature influence me more than the items I collect.
LPG: What artist or artists have influenced you the most?
MB: First my parents, who were both artists, and then the list is long. Roy M Mason, Frederick Whittaker, Chauncey Ryder, John Sell Cotman, Joaquin Sorolla, JMW Turner, Andrew Wyeth, Maurice Braun and the rest of the California impressionists.
LPG: Support for each other is so important. Locally, what artist excites you the most?
MB: Danny Griego, Marjorie Taylor, John Cosby and Ray Roberts.
LPG: Well, thank you for letting us into your creative world. It's been a pleasure and we are really looking forward to featuring your work at La Playa Gallery!
MB: Thank you!