August 2020
Abstraction has been central to my approach to painting over the last 40 years, I never felt a need to waver from this. Abstract art for me is a full and complete expressive medium, it thankfully skirts social trends. Ones response to it is direct and immediate, you are in the moment when experiencing it.
For a lot of that time I worked as Head of Art at Farnborough Sixth Form College, but continued to pursue my painting when I could. Recently (after retiring) I have managed to build a good studio space where I can further develop my work. I have rarely exhibited until recently due to the pressures and commitments of a full time job.
As a student at Ravensbourne and Brighton in the late 70s my enthusiasm and excitement for Abstraction became confirmed. My work has grown in scale and range of media since having the studio space. The unexpected ‘accidents’ and organic shapes that result from a part assembled, collaged approach seem now to match what I want to say artistically, and develop the more interesting results.
It’s a tough call writing about abstract art, really you know a successful work when you see it. Perhaps like a good joke, or piece of music. Cascading colours, forms and shapes coalesce into something complete through a process of struggling with the materiality of the chosen media. The application is often deliberately haphazard, and involves multiple layering and removal, reconfiguring until a recognition occurs. There is little conscious planning, the absence of this seems to generate more visually exciting and dynamic results, and I get taken to an unexpected place. The painting leads me, rather than the other way round.
The possible perceived lack of structure or clarity that some might see I do not. The amorphous decayed forms do for me join at some point and become complete.
Through these works I try to connect with the experience of the viewer beyond language, on an immediate, ‘intuitive’ level. At least thats what’s going on when I am getting in to it. I always struggle when people find abstraction hard to comprehend; really don’t think too hard, use your eyes and senses, and let it grow. Theres a lot to enjoy.
Analogue Monologue
2019
80 x 60 cm
£800
Corpus
2019
90 x 75 cm
POA
Bloom
2019
90 x 70 cm
£900
