Bristol based artist, Polly Luce uses a variety of mixed media, her paintings seeking to capture a fleeting moment or emotion while celebrating the joy of gestural mark making. Her approach is largely intuitive; the paintings unfold and develop almost of their own accord and she aims to invite the viewer to find an emotional connection within the painting.
Polly is very interested in the Abstract Expressionist movement of mid twentieth century America and draws inspiration from artists of this period. She also enjoys the juxtaposition between a physical and expressive painting process and more contemplative elements of deep calm within a painting. She seeks to use both processes in her work and a painting will often begin in a very gestural way before gradually finding a resolution with softer, more considered marks. Her work is both uplifting and thought-provoking, encouraging viewers to appreciate the simple things in life and find beauty in the ordinary.
Read on to discover more about her creative practice including her love for the smell of oil paint!
What sparks your initial ideas for a piece? Is it a feeling, an image, or something else entirely?
For me it usually starts with colour; I don’t tend to have a plan for paintings and try to paint intuitively and let the paintings evolve as I go. I am definitely strongly influenced by the seasons; the work I did in the spring this year tended to have a fairly light, almost pastel palette. Lots of pale greens, joyful mark making and a general feeling of hope and optimism for spring arriving. Whereas I am finding the work I am producing now is about that vibrant, verdant lushness that we get in the West Country at this time of year. I love it all and am constantly finding inspiration from the landscape.
Do you have a specific routine or ritual to get into a creative headspace?
I am lucky enough to work out of a studio at home, which really works well around the demands of having young children. Whenever I get a spare hour, evening or in one of my precious studio days I really try to make it count. Music is absolutely essential for me; I turn the speakers up load, start preparing a palette (or just carry on with yesterday’s one - one of the benefits of oils!) Knock back some strong coffee and get cracking. I can lose myself for hours in the studio and it is such a happy place for me. Even if I’ve had next to no sleep, or if I’m under the weather I find I can still become totally immersed in what I’m doing in there. Painting has become a part of me; I can’t really function without it anymore.
Do you have any lucky tools or materials you can't work without?
I’ve become really partial to working with cold wax. It opens up ways of working with oils which feel limitless to me. And I adore oil paint; even the smell! It’s up there with cut grass and a nice glass of red in my opinion.
What's the most challenging part of your artistic process?
Knowing when a painting is finished can be quite tricky. Sometimes I’ll feel satisfied that a painting has reached a resolution but then weeks later find myself tinkering away on it and then before I know it it’s taken on a completely different life. Lots of my paintings have gone through a few reincarnations!
If you could have your art evoke one specific emotion in a viewer, what would it be?
Gosh. Good question this. Probably joy; I always hope my paintings bring joy to the people who have made the leap and bought a painting into their home or space. It’s honestly such a privilege when someone loves a piece of work enough to buy it. I don’t think I will ever not be totally thrilled whenever it happens.
Who are your artistic heroes, and how have they influenced your work?
I think I have too many. I did a degree in Art History and became totally obsessed with the Abstract Expressionist painters in mid twentieth century America. One day I’ll make it over to America and go and see their work for real in New York! I also love the Impressionists for their lively brushstrokes. Turner’s use of light will never fail to inspire me. In terms of living artists I have lots of heroes too! Gareth Edwards is a contemporary painter down in Cornwall who has been quite significant in my own artistic development. I went on a course he ran in 2021, and he’s also co-written a book about how to paint abstract landscapes. If you are looking to get into abstract landscape painting I would definitely recommend it; he is incredibly generous in sharing knowledge he has gleaned from decades of being an artist. Another painter based in Cornwall whose work I love is Judy Buxton. She does fabulous horses, still lives and landscapes. They’re breathtaking.
Does your art ever surprise you with where it ends up taking you? If you weren’t an artist, what would you be doing?
Before I became an artist, I was a primary school teacher. I loved it, but decided to take a break after having my children. The plan was to go back when the girls were a bit older... but art seems to have slightly taken over my life now!
What are your ‘must have’ snacks and drinks when in the studio?
Coffeeeeeee! And if not coffee, then tea. Ideally tea that I’ve not dipped my paint brushes into.
What's the best piece of artistic advice you've ever received?
Keep experimenting, pushing yourself and paint what you love.
You are hosting a dinner party and have invited 3 other artists (living or dead), who would be on the guest list?
This is such a tricky question - so hard to just pick 3. I’d love to sit down and have a good old chinwag with Joan Mitchell and Helen Frankenthaler as they were artists whose work I love and find so inspiring. It would be cool to chat to them about what it was like being - horrible term here - women artists at the time they were working; hopefully they’d feel that things have changed for the better now (although still room for improvement, obvs!) As for the third person... Maybe this is too obvious an answer but it would be amazing to have Tracey Emin there. For the undoubtedly wild stories but also because she is so open and vulnerable in her work. I quite often see ‘oversharing’ as an act of generosity; when someone shares a feeling that you felt yourself but maybe felt shame or guilt when you did so... that can be so validating. I find her work beautiful and I also love that she is investing so much in developing younger artists. I feel like she’d probably have a lot to chat to Joan and Helen about too!
Thank you so much for answering my questions Polly! LOVE your answers (is it bad that you made me want to open a bottle of red?!) I have some glorious works from Polly on my website that can be viewed here.
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