2024 Reflections
The new work is based on my sea views and the connection I feel to the physical area where I live. There is a dynamism to standing on firm earth while looking at the surging, moving sea. Looking out to sea is less about focus and precision and more about observing the changing, shifting shapes and catching glimpses of land masses, seagoing vessels, objects on the water and the occasional sparkle of sunlight. This changing panorama affects the spirit and I feel a pull with the tides that speaks of history, nostalgia, longing and wonder. You can never feel totally comfortable with the sea on your doorstep. It can rage and thrash bringing fear. It can gently lap sending you off to sleep like listening to a heartbeat. If I try to paint a ‘thing’, it comes out too contrived and stiff so I do a lot of thinking, drawing, painting and mark making. Through the regular practice of turning up and painting, the work emerges. I start by laying down marks, collaging found papers, building up layers of paint and excavating the layers. I do this because it builds history. After a lot of building up and breaking down, I get to a point where I feel the painting starts to show its character and I draw that out. Every painting goes through many stages and can look completely different at each stage but I try not to get seduced too early. It is only through the working and reworking that the painting starts to breathe and to have a presence all its own. Occasionally, a painting just happens quickly and miraculously but that is rare and when it happens, it is a reward for the daily discipline of painting!
I have included some seascapes from my travels. I tend to holiday beside the sea and miss it if I go too far inland. I am also exhibiting retrospective works based on an exploration of nautical flags. I wanted to use recycled materials so I started these with the junk mail that comes through the door and I used the nautical flag designs to give an underlying structure to build on. I started small with postcard sized panels. Working with shapes and primary colours plus black and white was fun to do and I like to dot them around my home waving cheery little flags at me through the day. I then went a bit larger and I like the idea that these 30x30cms can be combined in different configurations to make a new painting. They also work as stand-alone too. You can see the full series of 'Flying Colours' on FLYING COLOURS portfolios on my website. They have a lot of potential and are fresh and modern even though they are based on a retrospective design. Do people even use nautical flags anymore? I like the idea of recycling materials and recycling ‘history’. I will revisit this theme again, going bigger and more abstract.
I have included some seascapes from my travels. I tend to holiday beside the sea and miss it if I go too far inland. I am also exhibiting retrospective works based on an exploration of nautical flags. I wanted to use recycled materials so I started these with the junk mail that comes through the door and I used the nautical flag designs to give an underlying structure to build on. I started small with postcard sized panels. Working with shapes and primary colours plus black and white was fun to do and I like to dot them around my home waving cheery little flags at me through the day. I then went a bit larger and I like the idea that these 30x30cms can be combined in different configurations to make a new painting. They also work as stand-alone too. You can see the full series of 'Flying Colours' on FLYING COLOURS portfolios on my website. They have a lot of potential and are fresh and modern even though they are based on a retrospective design. Do people even use nautical flags anymore? I like the idea of recycling materials and recycling ‘history’. I will revisit this theme again, going bigger and more abstract.
