Veena Purchon was born in Walsall, West Midlands during the 1980s and now lives in Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. She spent time living in France which in part has inspired her artistic journey. She is an impressionist and abstract expressionist painter who explores the realms and depths of water in both its splendour and its shortcomings. For as long as Veena can remember, she has struggled to come to terms with the injustices in the world and it is through the medium of painting she is able to express her ideas.
Self-taught or art school?
I’m a self-taught artist – I studied art and design until the age of 18 and then took French and English Literature at University, followed by a Masters in European and International Development Studies. During this time, I delved into informative research on the developing world and alongside it, the inequalities that exist for many people around the globe.
I’ve also always been drawn to water for its beauty, depth, and colour and feel, therefore, my work is influenced by my passion for social change.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
That’s tricky and a great question, there are many artworks I would love to own including one of Claude Monet’s Water Lilies and Vincent Van Gogh’s Seascape near Les Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer. Both paintings feature water and colour at their core. If I had to pick one, it would be the former.
How would you describe your style?
Impressionist and abstract expressionist is how I define my approach. Impressionist because I love the freedom to work expressively with a context in mind and abstract expressionist because I enjoy exploring my concepts and themes creatively. I tend to work mainly in oils and sometimes with oils and acrylics together. I paint dreamy waterscapes, landscapes, and darker abstract pieces.
Is narrative important within your work?
Very much so. My work is ultimately driven by the need for a positive shift particularly within a social and environmental context. Most of my paintings to date have explored the paradox between the abundance and absence of water. In some instances, this is apparent in my work, and less so in others for which I leave the viewer to develop their own interpretation and story.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
Thinking back to when I was younger, I was drawn to the works of surrealists such as Salvador Dali and Rene Magritte and recall seeing exhibitions of both artists. Dali paintings had dreamlike and fantastical qualities, and I found Magritte’s work to be ingenious. I also studied Magritte as part of my French degree which was a bonus and his use of words within his work was unheard of at the time. The interplay with life and death in Georgia O’Keeffe’s work was also fascinating to me.
More recently, however, and as I’ve broadened my knowledge of the world, it is the work of Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Gerhard Richter, and Jackson Pollock that influence my work. I’m drawn to these artists for a variety of reasons. Monet, simply because he has a unique ability to paint water and lilies unlike anyone else amongst many other beautiful subject matters. Van Gogh, because his own personal struggles with mental health resonate with me and his view of the world although sad was equally remarkable. Richter and Pollock because I feel their style enables me to explore the themes of absence and water scarcity in a creative way.
What or who inspires your art?
My inspiration is rooted in an innate desire to see a world where poverty does not exist, and where people have access to clean water with good infrastructure in place to achieve this. Water not only defines us as human beings (we are mostly made up of water – around 60%) but it also sustains us – without it we cannot survive for more than about three days. It is also then not surprising that the earth is also majority water– around 70%. Our waters are vital but not everyone has access to it, with dirty water the cause of more death and disease than should be accepted particularly in the developing world. More recently, cases of dangerous and polluted water have also been found in the UK, so this is not exclusively a distant and third world problem.
Are there any recurring themes within your work and can you tell us about them?
Yes, I believe so with the themes of water, nature, and time dominating my canvases through colour and context. These themes are intwined but can often be at conflict with one another. This is because although we need water to live, it is also the antithesis of our survival – due to flooding and increases in sea levels. I believe we can see what is happening beyond our own circumstances, yet we are either powerless to do anything or feel we are simply just surviving ourselves.
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
An outdoor space in the garden and room at home in Leeds currently double up as my studio. The outdoor space is spacious and light enough for larger works and allow me to get creative whilst the indoor space is ideal for my smaller works. I’ve gathered a fair number of books and ideas in my studio which I often reflect on and refer to whilst I’m painting.
Do you have any studio rituals?
My wellbeing is important to me and so most mornings I take a walk nearby to take in the fresh air which really helps me focus on the days I’m painting. Listening to music is also part of my painting process but this can depend on what I’m doing, some days I can go without and will paint in silence taking in my surroundings instead.
What are you working on currently?
As its the start of a new year, I’m really looking forward to the year ahead. I’m working on a decent sized water painting and a smaller work that I believe encapsulates the theme of water scarcity – it’s colourful, highlighting the heat of the sun and the distance people must go to find clean water. I intend to do a series of paintings like these and I’m excited about the challenge and the outcome in equal measure.
Where can we buy your art?
My art can be purchased by contacting me on vpurchonartist@yahoo.com or via my website www.veenapurchonart.com. A couple of my works are on sale through the Flux Review Exhibition and from the 21 January, the Winter Togetherness Exhibition hosted by D31 Art Gallery.
What are your ambitions?
My main goals are to reach my audience and communicate the narrative within my work whilst engaging in meaningful dialogue. I would also like to collaborate with like-minded creatives and organisations. Ultimately, I envision my work raising awareness about the social, political, and ecological change needed to break the cycle of dirty water and the very real impact this is having worldwide.
For more information, visit:
Website: www.veenapurchonart.com
Instagram: veenapurchonartist
