A somewhat unusual heading at first glance, but during a recent visit to a local marina, memories flooded back of my love of British Canal Art, despite not living on or owning a narrow boat.
The vibrant colors, simple designs, and the ease (with practice) of mastering the techniques captured my interest. Similar to Folk Art, it was a way for people in the past to create a more cheerful home environment.
My artistic journey with paints started several years ago when I came across the user-friendly folk art kits from 'You Can Folk It.' I was instantly captivated and eventually became one of their Ambassadors, teaching their straightforward techniques and designs. While I continue to teach folk art, I have also ventured into more intricate decorative painting methods. In 2023, I proudly obtained my Certified Decorative Artist certificate from the Society of Decorative Artists in America, becoming the first and only person from the UK to achieve this feat.
But I digress slightly. Right from the start, the module on Canal Boat Painting further deepened my fascination with the art form, if that was even possible.
It wasn't long before my curiosity led me to discover Terence Edgar, a well-known and respected figure in the field of traditional canal art. I had the fantastic opportunity to attend a two-day course with him at Stoke Bruene Canal Museum in Towcester in 2019, learning from a Master Craftsman who truly embodies canal art. This experience introduced me to enamel paints, which were used to create the boat panel shown above.
Below are more examples of my canal art pieces. The beautiful water pump was a commissioned work, and although my husband managed to get it functioning, it was destined to be a decorative feature in someone's garden.
Canal Art is among numerous other hands-on skills currently on the endangered Heritage Crafts list. Stay tuned for Part II, where I will delve into more history and shed light on why this art form is now facing risks.
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