Around Cornwall in 38 Churns devised by Sue Dennett, Cornwall Hospice Care supported by Rodda’s Cornish Clotted Cream I love Cornwall Visit Cornwall and David Lay Auctions is a trail of hand painted milk churns scattered across Cornwall.
My churn is at Bude Tourist Information Centre; it looks great in its temporary home and the team there are really helpful and friendly.
In September the churns will be collected and there will be a grand auction of the churns at Truro Cathedral. Although bidding on the churns has already started! You can bid on my churn here, or click the link via the 38churns website.
Painting a milk churn was certainly a new challenge for me, a combination of the size and the circular shape meant that I needed to consider a subject which would work from different angles. Whilst I love painting landscapes, I saw an opportunity to incorporate my popular ‘Beachscape’ style on a bigger scale than before.
This style was inspired by a much loved painter, L.S. Lowry, and mixed in with my love of the Cornish coast. My beachscapes feel like a world away from the mill scenes and industrial landscapes of Lowry’s work; where the figures are often leaning forward with heads down, moving towards their destination rather than enjoying being where they are. And yet many people are reminded of Lowry when they look at these paintings. Lowry’s figures were often dark, thin and elongated, given the name of ‘matchstick men’ by a critic – a name which Lowry didn’t like, but a name which sticks fondly in the minds of many people when they think of Lowry. In these paintings I want people to be able to spend time looking around all elements of the picture; seeing something new or conjuring a cherished holiday memory with every glance.
On my milk churn I’ve incorporated many of those iconic elements of spending time on the beach; from an RNLI truck and surf school through to swimmers, body boarders and sun worshipers all enjoying the seaside.
