William Carney ROI

Statement

William Carney mostly paints marine subjects. He also paints townscapes and still life, especially compositions with a strong geometrical construction. Apart from art, technical drawing was his favoured subject at school. Working in graphics over many years gave me the underlying discipline needed to produce a marine painting.

Methodology

William paints in oils. Pictures are determined by the subject and the composition so he often makes up his own canvases to odd sizes. He has a direct approach to the subject and he prefers to paint plein air, weather permitting. A photograph is taken before he starts to paint, just in case the weather changes half way through the session. William starts by sketching the composition with charcoal directly onto the canvas. He also uses charcoal to alter the composition, if necessary, whilst painting the picture. The motivation to paint for his is to ‘play with’ paint. William moves the paint around the canvas, working in compatible combinations of tints, tones and colour highlights. A combination of flat and round brushes, rags and palette knives are used to remove or add paint.

Bio

1943 Born on 18 August in Stockton on Tees, Durham

1973-76 Studied BA (Hons) Art and Design, Hornsey School of Art, London

1984-96 Graphic Artist/Illustrator for the Daily Express Newspapers in Fleet Street

1996 Began painting full-time

2004 Elected a Member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists

2008 Elected an Associate Member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters