On residency with Marie Lenclos
From the train in Hoxton, Oil on canvas 2022
Haggerston, Oil on linen 2022
Painter Marie Lenclos came to This House in October. Arriving easel in hand the plan was to pick a view and spend the week observing the changing light, colours and textures of the rural landscape. Marie’s painting studio is in the depths of South East London and her paintings portray the city in all its blocky, multi-layered glory. Upon arriving it was clear that the break from London was much needed - the residency came at a busy time of preparation for various upcoming shows but Marie was determined to take a moment to pause and try something new. She chose a view out across the Woodchester valley from the middle bedroom and the resulting painting see's a departure from the stillness so often present in her work of urban landscapes.
Marie kindly invited us to the cottage for a special viewing of the finished painting on her last day. As the sun set over the valley (and her painting of it) we discussed how true solitude is tricky to find in artist residencies where you often share space with other creatives. Our focus with the residency has always been to provide a relaxed, peaceful setting which offers freedom to reflect and make work with no expectation or formal presentations.
When she arrived Marie was committed to the process of slowing down and had a tried and tested method which helps her to lean into the ‘unexpectedness’ of nature. Inspired by her time spent painting tree’s in her family home in France she planned to apply a similar approach to the landscape in Amberley. By blending observation and imagination in her tree paintings there is a sense of freedom in their creation.
The challenge with this residency is to find motivation when faced with a lack of formality. It seems simple but often the hardest thing you can ask yourself as a creative is what do you want to make? What do you care about? What is it that makes you feel joy? There are so many obstacles that get in the way of these basic questions. We are often distracted by what our peer’s are up to. We make work for social media. We make work because we know it will sell and we need to sustain our practice in order to keep going.
There is an endless list of reasons which can lead us astray from the basic need to ‘create’ and it’s easy to find yourself on a pathway where you are making work that doesn’t feel authentic.
Marie is someone who has managed to avoid this. Her work is honest and doesn’t pretend to be something it isn’t. It is simple, direct and communicative yet has a stillness about it. Demonstrating many years of honing techniques there a real commitment to working out a style which is a true reflection of her as a person. It was lovely being invited by her to look at her work at the end of the week, and there was something special about being served a drink from our own cottage and looking at a beautiful piece of work that perfectly captured the view we all love so much.
To see more of Maries work see HERE.
Follow her @marielenclos
Words by Katie
