Alistair Butt RSMA

Statement

Light, in all its forms and its effect upon the subject, provides the starting point for Alistair Butt's paintings. It provides the sparkle, impact and mood of a landscape, seascape, harbour, village or city. Subject matter that inspires Alistair includes: beaches, harbours, boats, while inland, farms, villages, streams and landscapes.

Methodology

On location Alistair makes sketches, and takes some reference photographs. The form of the sketches depends on the available time, subject matter, location, weather etc. Beginning with a detailed drawing, Alistair plans the content and composition, before transferring that to stretched watercolour paper. He uses what is essentially a primary palette, enabling him to mix any colour. The method of painting varies slightly, but mostly Alistair uses a sequence of washes to build up the tonal variations and degree of detail using Winsor & Newton Series 7 brushes. Alistair uses a variety of supports with the colour palette being similar to the watercolour. He starts with a brush, establishing the main shapes, then sometimes he develops each part of the painting, working from the background forwards, or he’ll start with an underpainting and build on that.

Bio

1963 Born in Umtata, South Africa

1979-83 Studied at Worksop College of Art

1983-86 Studied Technical and Scientific Illustration at Blackpool and Fylde College

1991 Winsor & Newton Young Painters in Watercolour Finalist

2007 Elected an Associate Member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists

2008 Award the Ranelagh Press Award at the Royal Society of Marine Artists Annual Exhibition