Art Exhibition in commemoration of member Hazel Goddard
I am the youngest sister of the late Hazel Goddard, who was a life-long member of The Hogarth and lived in Chiswick for over 40 years. Hazel would often bring me here when I was a child back in the 70’s during school holidays when I would come to stay with her, her husband Harry and their son Steven. She would always encourage and praise me for my drawing and painting efforts as a child and I feel that her encouragement gave me the initial drive and ambition to one day become an artist. Therefore, after attending Hazel’s wake here at The Hogarth in 2016, I felt it only fitting that I exhibit my work here as a small tribute, and to hopefully raise some funds for ‘MIND’, the National Association for Mental Health, a charity I feel compelled to support. Twenty percent of all sales from my current exhibition at The Hogarth will be donated.
Hazel I am told, was an inspiration to anyone wanting to live a healthy lifestyle. I spent the majority of my time with her when I was a child and ever since I can remember, she was effortlessly glamorous and gifted with natural beauty, even when wearing a face pack with cucumber slices on her eyes!
As her younger sister, she taught me how to wear lipstick, nail varnish and stilettos all before I was 12! This left a lasting impression on me that I cherish dearly.
Hazel did have a rather devilish side as she loved to play tricks on people. The most vivid for me at the age of four was when Hazel was in her late teens and still living at home. She somehow acquired a gorilla suit (goodness knows where from) but the plan was to knock on the front door and give mum a fright. Fortunately for mum but not for me, I heard the knock first so I opened the door to this furry ogre with a hideous mask. Despite screaming uncontrollably, the gorilla shooed me back in and shut the door again to have a second go. Mum came running, hesitantly opened the door with me still screaming at her feet, the gorilla roared and ran away!
Poor mum, I don’t know to this day if she ever knew it was her daughter Hazel.
Another time was when mum called the fire brigade to break down the bathroom door as Hazel had locked herself in and wasn’t responding. After the lock was broken, there was Hazel, cool as a cucumber doing her mascara in the mirror. “What’s the matter?” Hazel asked!!
Hazel was born in Hurn, Christchurch and the family moved to Brighton and then to Lewes in East Sussex which is where I grew up. Despite having a tough childhood after losing her father at the tender age of 15, Hazel went on to become a devoted wife and mother and her outlook on life was to always look to the future and to not dwell on the past. The time I spent with Hazel, Harry and Steve in my childhood years was very precious and I have such treasured memories.
I began my art career in Lewes as a young adult with no formal training. My desire was to try and develop my own representations, so I emerged working part time, on commission and exhibited local landscapes.
Over the years I have become inspired by the surrounding woodland countryside of Sussex and I now paint landscapes in oils as well as large semi-abstract impressions, inspired from time spent in New Zealand some years ago. Through years of experimenting, these atmospheric semi-abstracts have organically evolved into natural formations of woodland, forests, caves and water.
Having the freedom to oscillate between two different styles of interrelated artwork is very liberating for me.
I work full time as a professional artist living and working in rural West Sussex. I exhibit independently, within groups as well as working on commission and am a proud member (and treasurer) of the prestigious Association of Sussex Artists.
In 2017, one of my botanical oil paintings was voted 3rd best by The People’s Choice at The Association of Sussex Artists exhibition and later purchased by The Horsham Museum and Art Gallery in West Sussex.
I have also received notable portrait commissions in the past, one of them being presented by Lord Monk Bretton of Barcombe, near Lewes, East Sussex in 1983, and another from the Arthur Conan-Doyle Association (Crowborough) in 2003.
I am sure Hazel would have been very proud of me, exhibiting at The Hogarth, a place where she spent so much time over her lifetime.
Carole’s exhibition is currently along the corridor up until Saturday 18 May 2019. Please contact Head of Art, Ambi Devetta for sale enquiries.
Go to www.caroleskinner-rupniak.com to see a full list of Carole’s work.