Liz Foster North Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Back to profiles

My practice is one of continuous transition & evolution. My current paintings explore ideas around the passing of time; the repetitive brush marks act as a visual representation of transience - counting out moments one by one. By repeating & building layers of marks, they create a pattern. The pattern, in turn, forms rhythmic motifs and forms that can be read as macro or micro views of the world.

As a process-led painter I don’t plan a final image before I begin. I lay down marks and then respond to them, building a painting by adding, removing and editing the image over several months. I might use a particular colour palette to drive a work, but this also has to shift and evolve as the painting develops. For me, painting is a balance between control and instinct. The final composition only comes into focus towards the end of the process.

My paintings are abstract, reflecting my thoughts, feelings and memories but not illustrating them. The material quality of the paint is equally as important as the theme and colour is always central to what I do.

Painting is a fundamental expression of who I am, it is my language. I find joy in the materials and each work is a new adventure, posing questions and challenges that are limitless and fascinating