Work and Love: The Drawings of Maureen Nathan

Maureen Nathan is relentlessly engaged with her practice. Always with a sketchbook, always observing what’s around her; her drawings are full of energy and excitement, fuelled by an insatiable appetite for exploring, responding, and risk taking. She works across a plethora of media including ink and chopstick (a technique she refers to as ‘chopstinking’), collage, oils and acrylics, as well as good old fashioned pen, pencil and charcoal. Maureen divides her time between working in London and Dorset. I wanted to find out more about her approach to picture making.

Lisa: Why is drawing important to your practice?

Maureen: Drawing is the basis for all the work I make and I always have a sketchbook with me. It’s important to be able to explore and take risks and drawing encourages this. Recently I have become more interested in the exterior world and have been drawing in response to the sounds around me. 

Lisa: Can you tell us how you came about working with ink and chopsticks and what you like about working in this medium?

Maureen: I started using ink and chopstick about 5 years ago as a way of freeing up my drawings which I felt had become stylized and predictable. Often drawing exercises suggest using a stick or twig but I had some chopsticks and thought why not? Dipping them into the ink and not being able to control the amount of ink each time or having a consistent set of marks to base drawings on was very liberating. I still like using this medium because it throws up unexpected surprises which I happily integrate into the work more often than not!

Lisa: How often do you draw?

Maureen: I draw almost every day.

Lisa: Do your paintings always start with a drawing in a sketchbook, or do you usually dive straight into working on canvas? How would you describe the relationship between your drawings and your paintings?

Maureen: I often base paintings on drawings from my sketchbooks although I do sometimes dive straight onto the 2d surface. I paint on ply panels which give a certain resistance that I like and can really take a beating.  I often use 3 or 4 layers of paint and sand this down a bit, add collage and more paint and the panels stand up to this very well. It isn’t always evident in photographs but the paintings have a lot of surface texture. My drawings always inform the paintings but if a painting starts to go its own way I just follow it and see what happens.

Lisa: How do you know when a drawing is finished?

Maureen: Good question!

Lisa: You recently had 2 sketchbooks included in Sketch 17, the exhibition of artist’s sketchbooks at Rabley Drawing Centre. How did it feel to have something as private as a sketchbook in an exhibition?

Maureen: I was delighted to have 2 sketchbooks selected although I did feel that I was exposing myself by putting them forward in a way that’s different to showing finished work. Visiting the exhibition I felt enormously privileged to hold and look at other people’s sketchbooks. I think it was really only then that I realized what an intimate experience the whole process of sharing sketchbooks is.

Lisa: Can you tell us about your drawing workshops and your teaching methodology?

Maureen: My approach to teaching is about freeing up expectations and enjoying the journey of discovery. I encourage participants to develop and explore their own ideas often leading to exciting and unexpected outcomes. These are especially helpful to artists who feel they have become stylized in their approach, much as I had felt when I first picked up my chopstick. These informal but intensive sessions are a way of loosening up and creating expressive drawings.

Lisa: How would you describe a typical art day for Maureen Nathan?

Maureen: Happily most days are typical art days for me. Mornings are spent catching up with emails, paperwork, any reading I want to do and household chores. By midday I’m at the studio with a packed lunch and get to work at least until 5 but sometimes later.

Lisa: Where online or in the flesh can we view more of your work?

Maureen: I have a recent painting on show at the Royal West of England Academy Open Exhibition in Bristol (1st October – 3rd December – more information here. I am on Instagram which is a marvelous platform for artists @workandlove, on my website maureennathan.com and some ink drawings are available to purchase at maureennathan.bigcartel.com

Header Image: ‘Arturo’ by Maureen Nathan, Ink and Pastel on paper, 30cm x 21cm, 2013