Guest Blog: Belinda Reynell

Guest Blog: Belinda Reynell

Artist Belinda Reynell wins a £50 Pegasus Art Gift Voucher courtesy of Portfolio Plus Artists & Illustrators magazine for her painting ‘Orange Glow’ in oil. We invited Belinda as a guest blogger to tell us how she painted the winning artwork and which art materials she favours.

Orange Glow by Belinda Reynell 35 x 45cm

You won this months Portfolio Plus £50 Pegasus Art voucher. Congratulations! Do you like entering art competitions, do you think it’s valuable?

Thank you so much! Yes I do feel entering competitions is very valuable to promote my work and get more visibility. It’s particularly good if its free to enter, like Artists and Illustrators. Sometimes the cost of entering competitions is prohibitive.

What inspired your winning painting? Tell us about the process and materials too please!

My beautiful surroundings particularly at Knightshayes National Trust inspired this piece, the stunning autumn colours turn woodlands into magical places. The materials I used are oils on canvas and the tools palette knives and scrapers.

Artist Belinda Reynell at work. Winner of the Pegasus Art gift voucher prize c/o artists & illustrators magazine.
Artist Belinda Reynell at work

Are you a full time artist, or do you balance your painting with other jobs?

I am a full time artist and art teacher. I run art courses and recently a regular zoom class. Also I have online tutorials on my website.

What is your preferred medium and which brands do you favour?

I work in traditional oils on large canvases. My favourite brand are the Jacksons own brand of oils, but regularly try out different brands depending on my budget! I also love the Georgian water mixable oils, which I always use to teach and when working on paper.

Were you formally trained or self taught and do you think this matters?

I was trained in illustration at Chelsea School of Art BA course and followed this up with an MA at Brighton in Narrative Illustration and Editorial Design. I don’t think you have to have been trained but I found it invaluable to the way I work and also a massive help with my teaching. Education broadens the mind and if I could I’d do another BA in fine art.

Do you paint every day? What keeps you going?

I paint most days either planning teaching sessions or working on my own work. Occassionally I have a bit of a break, but find after about a week I’m really missing painting.

We welcome guest blogger Belinda Reynell, winner of this months Pegasus Art Gift Voucher c/o Artists & Illustrators magazine as she explores her seascapes & favourite art materials.
Artist Belinda Reynell

Do you attend art classes yourself?

I have attended a few different workshops, a particularly good one in Newlyn, Cornwall. I’d love to go to more at some stage when I’m not so busy and have the funds.

Which websites can you recommend for resources and support for an artist. Is it important to be part of a group, society or club? How do you stay in the loop?

I belong to Devon Artists Network which is a great support for this area and also runs the Devon Open Studios each year, which I always take part in. I would like to get more involved in the South West Art Academy.

Do you find social media useful to you as an artist?

Yes I find social media invaluable and most of my marketing and some sales are done this way. It’s hard work and slow to build but definitely worth it and it makes you feel part of an artist community. I have Instagram and Facebook.

www.belindareynell.com

belindareynell@gmail.com

www.instagram.com/belindareynell