AN EXHIBITION by an Inwardleigh artist who takes inspiration from a meadow next to her tranquil home, is on display at the Salar Gallery, Hatherleigh, until October 16.
'Natural Imprints' by Julia Barton features a series of etchings, monoprints and paintings inspired by the unspoilt environment where the artist lives.
Julia's most recent work has been based on a particular meadow next to her farmhouse. She has made studies of animal tracks through the year as well as traces of man-made artifacts left abandoned in the hedgerows. These might be the remains of an old tractor used to repair gaps in the hedge or rusty barbed wire left to form a temporary fence.
Julia's work starts with drawing and photography. She then gathers plant material to be used to make marks onto the etching plates and mon-prints. Earth samples are collected and used as natural pigments.
Julia says she is interested in the way that both natural and man-made objects weather and corrode when left to the elements and how they can be changed into things of beauty by the 'forces of nature'.
Julia, who used to teach at Okehampton College, previously exhibited at the gallery with two other artists as part of last year's Nine Days of Art. She has also exhibited in London and Falmouth.
Julia uses print making to express her ideas, often combing etching with mono-printing and drawing.
Some of her larger pieces are worked on canvas using mixed media — oil paint, earth pigments, dried grasses and hand-made papers.
The exhibition runs at the Salar Gallery in Bridge Street, Hatherleigh until Thursday, October 16.