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claire @ aelf.net

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Artist's Profile

Hello, for those of you who don't know me, my name is Claire and I am an Artist living and working in Surrey, UK. I live with my husband and work from my studio at home. I am a full exhibiting member of the local art group known as the Dorking Group of Artists, and have recently stepped down from role of Winter Activities Co-ordinator as I am expecting my first child in June. I also designed and manage the DGA website.

WHY AELF?
The name Aelf (I pronounce it "elf") originates from when I first started playing online games and I had to choose a net-name. As I like fantasy and myths, I decided to go for the Old English name for an elf, and I have kept it ever since. These days I tend to use it as my forum name when I visit the anime/manga forums, so do look out for me and say "hi!"

ART BACKGROUND
As you can see from the examples of my work on this site, I enjoy illustrative and concept design work as well as developing my skills in the Fine Art painting. Originally from Derbyshire, I lived in Scotland for some time, where studied Art and Design at Falkirk college of Technology. After leaving college I worked as a designer dressmaker, mainly making Fan Convention costumes as well as designer wear. When I moved to Dorking I decided to go back to college and received a 'Distinction' in Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at the Reigate School of Art, Surrey, followed by a BA (Hons) degree in Theatre Studies (Design) at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London.

INFLUENCES
My work probably stems from my love of people watching, and the sense of theatre in everyday life and environments. With the fine art work I am attracted to the shapes of people milling about in groups and the similarities in what they do, and as I look closer, the individual quirks of each person. The textures and colours of the surroundings such as buildings, reflections windows, streetlights, advertising billboards and signposts, play a part in my paintings as I feel they are all part of the scene. I am always experimenting with different types of painting media and often mixing to create the desired effect I am after for the painting. My subject matter is usually taken from places I have been to, either in my local area, or various holidays.
I have always had a great passion for Japanese and other Oriental Art, mainly the traditional block prints and the more modern Manga comics and Japanese animation, so these do influence my work, as well as other styles such as Impressionist paintings and any contemporary art, both in the illustrative artwork and fine art.
I have an ever expanding list of Artists and Designers I admire, including Brom, Yoshitaka Amano, Alan Lee, Arthur Rackham, Hiroshige, de Kooning, Turner, Monet, Piper, Scully, Erte and de Lempkica, along with all of the professional and part-time comic artists I get to learn about and make friends with (too many to name). There are many more influences and people I admire, which do change from time to time, as I discover more accomplished Artists, and develop my own work.