Wondering What Natalie Rymer’s Art Is All About?

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever used as a paintbrush?

A stick if that counts! Not exactly weird, but it did the job. It can be a good exercise practising using different items like this to create different lines and textures. Sometimes the most unassuming things turn out to be quite handy once there is paint involved.

If your art had a soundtrack, what would it sound like?

It would be something like Arvo Pärt’s ‘Spiegel im Spiegel’ one of my  absolute favourite pieces of music ..it is wonderfully peaceful and lets your mind wander in a nice way..like a winter breeze, or birds moving slowly through a blue pale sky, I think it would be a perfect soundtrack to one of my paintings.

Studio snack of choice: paint-free fingers or not bothered?

Mcvities Dark Chocolate Digestives!! …not bothered ! I get paint on everything.

If you could step inside one of your paintings, which would it be and what would you do there? 

Oh it would definitely be a winter scene…The Winter Horse painting...I would be hanging out the washing before going for a lovely walk and heading back to my little cottage to sit by the fire with a book and a hot chocolate.

What colour do you secretly overuse, even if you pretend it’s balanced?

Blue! I just can't help myself!

What’s one art tool or supply you can’t live without (but others might find surprising)?

I freak out if I don't have a tube of Titanium white…and I must have a kitchen roll to keep my brushes clean and wipe up any spillages!

Is there a painting you’ve created that you’ll never sell and why?

Two paintings I would struggle to let go of are The Goats in the Moonlight and The Winter Horse. They both came together so naturally loose, free, and full of movement. Some pieces I think  just have a rhythm from the start, and these were two of them.

Which comes first—title or artwork? Or do you make it up on the spot?

Usually the artwork comes first..sometimes a title will come first. I rarely make it up on the spot.

If your art style were a season, which one would it be?

That is  a tricky one, but I think my art style would be winter. I’m drawn to soft whites, bluey greys, and muted tones. They feel calm and reflective, and I love mixing those shades to create depth. That said, I always like to add brighter colours too. I think that contrasting the gentle with the bold brings a nice balance and stops the work from feeling too quiet.

What’s one non-art thing that always ends up inspiring your work anyway?

I find so much inspiration in visiting new places. I love exploring and taking in different surroundings there’s always something unexpected that influences how I see and create.

How long does it take you to finish a painting?

One week for a medium size painting ..two weeks for a large canvas and probably 3-4 for a large oil on canvas.

Do you always know what you’re going to paint before you start?

I will have a rough idea. It may be a season…a time of the day, a particular landscape or seascape..maybe a still life.

Do you ever mess up a painting?

Yes..I will leave it to one side ..I very rarely work over something too many times because I lose that spontaneity and freshness.

How do you come up with your colour combinations?

I am always looking ..I see colour combos in everything..lime green leaves against a metal coloured sky is one of my favourite combos..I like white walls and the soft tones you can see as the light changes…there is colour everywhere.

Do you work on more than one painting at a time?

Not really…I am so focused on the painting that I am working on that I don't think I would give it my absolute best if i had several on the go.

Where do you get your ideas from?

From being out and about..I love exploring and taking photos…maybe magazines…books..there is inspiration everywhere..visiting art galleries..interiors ..ideas everywhere.

Do you sketch things out first, or just go straight in with paint?

No, I like to go straight in! If it is a complicated commission possibly..but very rarely.

Do you listen to music or podcasts while you paint? If so, what?

I like to listen to audible ..most recently The Dutch House by Ann Patchett..I love listening to comedies like Fawlty Towers, Tony Hancock, The Good Life…I like listening to Classic FM or a classical playlist … I usually love to listen to more mainstream music when I am going for a run or in the gym.

Have you ever started a painting and then completely changed your mind halfway through?

Yes..I think I probably have..maybe opting to change the canvas from horizontal to portrait, perhaps changing the sky.

What’s the hardest part of making art for you?

Starting! You know you have a mountain to climb. It feels like snakes and ladders.. one minute you are making progress, the next you are back at the start, questioning everything!

I hope you enjoyed this little Q&A!