I started to paint more loosely when experimenting with still life and water-based oils, they are very flexible and allowed me to move to palette knives. Working with knives immediately gives you a tool where you are able to experiment with less detail and a more 'loose' style. I now do not use brushes at all and only use palette knives for mixing paint.

I work with card, bubble wrap, rollers - anything which I feel is appropriate. Often I am influenced or inspired by the work of other artists – it may be something very small but a starting point for a new development in my own work. The new influence could be colour, media, scale, subject matter style, almost anything whether an artist from the past or contemporary work.

I never seem to have any trouble wondering what to paint. If I see something - a poster, postcard, or a view - I will keep the image for later use in a painting or as part of a painting. I usually work from my own observations, photographs or en plein air. Subject matter varies - still life, townscapes, seascapes, whatever has recently inspired me, though I tend to have 'phases'.

A painting may start with inks, collage or rollers to keep it loose. Then I may add a few lines and blocks of structure, working from the background out to the final details. At the end I am only putting in a line, a reflection, a shadow or a little detail.

I work in ink, gouache, acrylic, oils, tempera, collage or anything which I feel is appropriate for the work. Very rarely do I use brushes. I have several sketch books for experimenting, old photograph albums which I pick up in a charity book shop are really useful.

I can try out techniques, colours or any development which I might want to experiment with before using it on a piece of work. Playing with materials and techniques is very satisfying and often leads to unexpected results. Lastly, I must be pleased with the work myself or it is not good enough.

Image credit: ‘St. Ives Harbour Scene in mixed media using inks, acrylics and collage’, Jill Hammond

To get in touch, please email Jill at hammj.chelten@gmail.com.