I’ve just completed a small new oil painting based on an area of Cannock Chase. Although I’ve used this forest many times as inspiration, the difference this time was that I wanted to create something that focuses on a peaceful atmosphere. For me, the forest is a place of great wonder but also somewhere I go to unwind and get away from the stresses of life. The media is generally quite negative and paints a bleak and hopeless view of the world. Although life has challenges, there is beauty and acts of kindness but you rarely hear or read about it. As a student I was given the impression that serious works of art should be political or deal with social issues but I’ve recently felt like making work that is calm and still. The new painting is called ‘The Path Home’ and can be found in the ‘Small Works’ section of this website.
Lull
Following my recent ‘Abandoned Spaces’ exhibition, I started to have ideas for a new body of work. I’ve been experimenting with inks in sketchbooks and trying slightly new ways of working. When using ink I normally favour the fine line pens but have recently been working with quink and white ink. After a few loose pieces, I came up with a more layered and detailed piece which I’ve called ‘Lull'.
The title of the new work relates to my interest in producing work that is peaceful and still. It is a reaction against the news which almost entirely focuses on what is wrong with the world. I didn’t feel that I wanted to add to that and so have set about planning work that is quiet, slow and serene. By having moments of serenity we are able to recharge our energy and are then better equip to cope with life. At the same time, by slowing down occasionally, we are able to find the moments of beauty that are all around us. The world is not perfect but by missing this beauty, we are left with a distorted view of life.
You can view ‘Lull’ in the woodland section of the website.
The Quiet Path
I am currently working across several creative projects. Just recently I have been doing a lot of pen and ink work and have just completed a new drawing in this medium, ‘The Quiet Path’, which can be seen in the ‘Woodland II’ section of this website. This is a small drawing depicting Cannock Chase once again but in many ways it could be from many other forests around the UK. The point of most of my art is always more than what is on the surface and the forest is also an environment to lose yourself in and clear your mind. It’s a great source of inspiration and a very calming influence.
Renewal
I have recently started looking at the forest once again for inspiration. I enjoyed creating the woodland series three years ago and felt that there was more i could explore. This time around i became interested in the traces people leave behind - cut branches, litter, paint marks etc I found areas where people had recently left their mark - no longer present but traces remain. As well as the man made trails there was also the more natural causes of change - trees broken by wind and storms, creating unusual forms and textures. The forest never stays the same.
Aside from this surface visual level of interest, the new work will also look at themes of stillness and presence - being in the moment without thought, absorbed in the surroundings. The idea is that the paintings capture this feeling as well as documenting the changes of time on a visual level.
The first painting in this series, "Renewal" has just been completed and i am really pleased with how it worked out. I feel it has captured the essence of what i want to convey. This can be viewed in the Woodland section of my website.