Sources of Inspiration: Andy Goldsworthy

I confess, I’m a total fan of the work of the British artist Andy Goldsworthy, who works with natural elements such as snow and leaves to produce often-ephemeral work with only photographs as evidence that they ever existed. I find his work intensely moving, spiritual even, and spectacularly beautiful, the more so when you realise it’s all done with nature’s own “paints”.

What looks like paint thrown in a puddle of water, polluting it, is in fact a “home-made pigment” created by grinding down a pebble. A rock that looks like it’s been painted red is in fact coloured by red leaves stuck down with water. Seeing the possibilities in light and shadow; working with the power of waves. The incongruity of huge snowballs on a city pavement and boxes made from leaves.

I haven’t seen any of his sculptures in real life (yet!), but have spent hours in awe of the photos in various books on him. How does his work influence my own painting? It’s not in any direct way; I don’t try to replicate or imitate what he does. (I did try a few years back with some purple and white pebbles, and water; it only reinforced what vision and patience he must have and how deceptively simple his work is).

What it does is to recharge the batteries that generate my motivation; it makes my fingers itch to be creating something of my own. To strive to paint something that’ll touch people in the way that Goldsworthy’s art touches me.

On days when this seems a totally unachievable ambition, I remind myself of those occasions when people seeing a painting of mine have whispered: “Oh, wow” and I know I’ve hit that spot. And on dark days when I doubt my creativity and reasons for painting, I must remember to reach once more into Goldsworthy’s world.

• Take a look at what I'm enthusing about by seeing what comes up when you search Google Images for Andy Goldsworthy photos.
• Take a look at Goldworthy's Sheepfolds project, in Cumbria
• Take a look at photos from the Snowballs in Summer project