series on the easel...
'Cloud Chambers'
Cloud Chambers
A series of at least 10 large abstract canvases about the infinitely small, so small that it can not actually be seen, only the affects left behind in the wake of movements and trajectories are visible, a way of analysising and understanding what has happened and possibly why.
The parallels and similarities with human personalities is quite interesting and these will be uppermost in my mind whilst painting.
The image here is of the first canvas work in progress, it shows underpainting as I layer paint, later scraping movements... I need somehow to trace paths and show personalities and egos in motion, crashing into things unaware/ oblivious of the effects they are having on those around them.
projects planned...
from series on commodification, vulnerability/resiliences
to jargon/business life and 'what's in a name',
what is in a name?
This series is about names and how their perceived/ unconscious personalities fit together or indeed not fit together.
It is also be about unconscious bias, as it brings nothing to the canvas except the viewers thoughts, histories and experiences.
I have been unsure of this for a while now but two recent events; reading Milkman by Anna Burns (please read this if you have not yet done so!), and watching the Kenneth Branagh film Belfast, both have a scene about the importance of names and naming.
imperfections
This series idea has come from a drawing that was part of the most recent SoCo (South Coast Artists Group) exhibition.
The drawing shown here is quite small but I am thinking about exploring this with quite large, colourful, oil on canvas paintings...
keeping the lines thin and separate from each other,
the lines and separations are a metaphor of our interactions with others, as we each navigate our way through life, trying to keep 'on the straight and narrow' without causing friction with those around us...
or maybe some should twist around each other as we involve ourselves physically with others...
early thoughts that will develop later in the year hopefully when we return from a late holiday in October.
political word searches
Political word search games series are potentially a way to uncover our unconscious thoughts about politics and politicians.
The plan is to read the political party manifestos and pull out important words and place them into word search grid games together with words associated with each party.
Lots of interviewing to make sure associated words are not just my view or biased thoughts. I am thinking of these as large oil on canvas paintings. It would be good to have these ready for the next election... whenever that might be.
semantics; this painting series?
This painting is a placebo,
This painting has more value than the other pages?
This painting is a 46 minute read...
I am still not sure about this series, although i have almost 50 different versions of 'this painting' commenting on different current topics and issues about how we live our lives.
I think I will try a few and put them out on my Instagram feed and see what interest there is in them.
maps from the future
These will, i think, be a slightly provocative attempt to explore (to begin with) European Maps and how the Continent might evolve. Different viewpoints can be taken probably starting with Politics (I am still very saddened by Brexit).
Lots of research and interviewing to do once Covid has eventually subsided.
Sketches and drawings might lead to new 'old' primary school maps printed on linen, similar to the one shown here from the Spitalfields Antique Market, maybe on wooden rollers to give a more 'looking back from the future' aesthetics.
vulnerability and resilience
the thought with this series is to explore the topic using flowers to describe personalities towards either ends of the spectrum. It is an attempt to comment on the generation that has been described as snowflakes and a society that we have created in which everyone is a winner… sketches of orchids and dandelions are underway, these separate depictions might be stitched together in some way...
not sure how yet.
paintings from the future
this series is about reflection upon the changing global power structures, especially the rise of China and reassertion of a more aggressive Russia.
I am collecting and collating old historic images of the Lunar Landings as well as more recent Space Station imagery to explore ways to manipulate them to tell a slightly different 'future' story.
management & jargon
do we need this work life motivational input? 'your team has won a two star silver award'... click on the link to hear their journey to 'success',
I have been collecting and categorising this management speak ready for a series of oil on canvas pieces.
Just how these should be painted to further enforce the narrative within them also needs careful thought...
sustainability issues, plastics
water in plastic,
plastic in water
10 paintings for the series are now finished, ready for exhibition in September this year in St Leonards/Hastings.
Lots of work do to for the exhibiton, more news coming...
One of the series, No6, is now in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.
landscapes, extreme users
still not sure about this one, but somehow I cannot quite let it go, manipulated and edited images from the International Space Station might form a basis for a short series,
and painted on quite large canvases,
or maybe not...
signs of the times
the thought for this series is to investigate and paint everyday phrases or comments and how they have changed through time. Having spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to learn Italian, it has shown how much of our language and everyday communication is through slang and colloquialisms... lots more research to do.
postcards from venice
This series is not really about a particular issue, they are of Venice, having spent a few days there at the end of last year on our way back from the beautiful LeMarche region of Italy.
Ten large watercolours are finished, (along with some smaller studies), I am planning to have another ten quite large oil paintings to form an exhibition possibly called 'Oil and Water' at some point in 2024.
postcards from venice
Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
Summer Exhibition 2023
water in plastic, plastic in water
I am delighted to be back in the RA Summer Show, this time able to fully immerse myself in the rituals...
The Exhibition opens at the beginning of June and runs through to the end of August 2023.
water in plastic, plastic in water
The Green Room at the RA Summer Show... it is very pleasing to be in the centre of the arrangement.
2018; A matter of perspective, granularity series
A 30 canvasboard series exploring the Italian LeMarche landscape was exhibited at the Clerkenwell Gallery in December 2018.
The series, a selection shown below, concentrated on the granularity of the landscape, with a focus on the texture, pattern and colour of the landscape,
The canvas series moved from a fluid figurative representation towards a more abstracted view.
2016/7 Between the land and the sky
These were painted in the Central Italian province, a beautiful region of hilltop towns and rolling land- scape, stretching from the Adriatic Sea to the Apennines and Sibillini Mountain ranges, Umbria and Tuscany are its slightly better known neighbours.
Much of LeMarche’s rich undulating fertile land is planted several times a year by local elderly farmers on family farms. One can see and hear the many old tractors, sometimes used at night during what can be a very hot July and August harvest time, the squeaky wheels give ones sleep a rhythmic soundtrack.
This family farming helps to shape the land.
Mature olive trees stand in fields full of crops, a few productive strips of vines remain for home made wine for an extended family. It might also be part of what contributes to the quality of life in the region, one that has some of the most long-lived people in Europe. Central Italy don’t forget, is the area that gave birth to the Slow Movement, the reaction against fast-food and drive-through living. 6 of the 12 oil on canvasboard works are shown,
olive trees in a field of grass feed
In a good productive year these trees will give their family 6 or 7 litres of first cold press olive oil.
Yes, you can buy good oil in the supermarkets of LeMarche but these trees produce family oil certain of origin and authenticity,
it is unthinkable not to farm around them.
detail
Painted using palette knives with tubed paint, pigments and oil.
Painted on preprepared canvas board.
insomniacs 1
insomniacs 2
ordered 1
ordered 2
ordered 3
ordered 4
competing forces
the centre is a feeling
your heart is off centre
squares within squares within squares
sweaters
paul smith
neptune
from the point of departure series
a distant port
from the point of departure series
winds of change
from the point of departure series
over the horizon
from the point of departure series
two canvases from the exhibition.
