Carol Lorrayne artist profile - Sell art, Buy art, Selling art, Online gallery art portfolio

Artist profile of Carol Lorrayne

Registered: Thursday 1st May '08

Profile address: http://www.alltradeart.co.uk/carol-lorrayne

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Painting for me is a working meditation with CDs of temple music, Buddhist bells or gongs, or traditional Khmer music playing in my studio while I work. Painting is part of my practice of Metta (Loving Kindness), and is inspired by a recent visit to Angkor Wat, Cambodia which altered my life dramatically.

I had walked through the Gate of Transformation at Angor Thom, without knowing at the time it was called that. I climbed to the Bayon and was surrounded by more than two hundred enigmatic smiling faces of Buddha looking out in the four cardinal directions. On the path to Ta Prohm I had a profound life changing experience.

Returning home my meditation practice changed; I simplified my life and, inspired by the serenity and dignity of the people I had met in Siem Reap: children, monks, and the Khmer people, I decided to sponsor a student for the next three years. I cleared a lot of material possessions from my home and started painting again after a break of eighteen years.

The images for the paintings are mainly taken from statues of Buddha. I 'sign' them in Enochian, the angelic script channelled to John Dee, alchemist, mathematician, astronomer, and advisor to Queen Elizabeth 1.

On leaving Haberdasher's Aske's Hatcham Girls' School I studied exhibiton design and display. Subsequent work in London included exhibitons, department store display, and working as a stylist for a group of photographic studios.

I moved to Cornwall and raised a family, running a design business, then an antique business and finding time to paint as well. I had several solo shows and have work in private collections all over the world.

My earlier paintings were large surreal images of sensual plants and flowers, and then followed a more muted phase of surreal landscapes. Following my divorce I had to be practical and support two teenage sons so turned to a more lucrative and reliable career as a designer of original bags and waistcoats, and also made theatrical costumes, as well as working with an international interior designer and creating stunning interiors which utilised my diverse talents.

The last five years have been an exciting time of personal growth for me and following a visit to Cambodia I decided to use painting as part of my meditation practice and began the current series of Buddha images.

Location: Truro, Cornwall UK

Website: No website specified.

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