Mary Jane Ansell

The figurative artist tells NATALIE MILNER why she loves to create haunting pictorial narratives in her paintings.

- Natalie Milner

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?

I bought my first set of oils at 14. I was so desperate for an easel, I made a table-top contraption from some wood I found in my dad’s shed. I’ve learned through trial and error, picking up whatever I could from galleries, books and magazines such as Artists & Illustrators. I’ve always been a people-watcher and love to try to capture that ineffable thing that is the person. I did an honours degree in illustration at Brighton University because I love to explore narrative and wanted the challenge of different mediums and projects, as well as access to world-class practising artists and a life model.

Tell us about your painting process.

I paint directly, almost alla prima in parts, with Old Holland, Gamblin, M Graham and Michael Harding paints, and Rosemary & Co brushes. I prime an aluminium composite panel with a tinted acrylic ground and sand until it’s perfectly smooth. Starting with a simple drawing, I map out the image, then go in with a fairly limited palette, building colour layers.