Hello Small Mouthless Cat

     A preview of a still life I'm working on. Here is the drawing for it. I always make a drawing first on top of a primed surface. I much prefer painting but if it is to be a successful artwork a solid drawing is essential.

Binary

Binary
Acrylic On Paper
15 x 10"

     A nice simple landscape here. Sometimes the quick and simple paintings are the most emotive. This one was an experiment to see how minimalistic I could be and how with just a few elements I could create an interesting work of art. I think in this respect it was successful.

Rejection

Waning Influence
Acrylic On Canvas
16 x 12"

     This painting was entered into the Ferens art gallery open exhibition in Hull. Circumstances meant I could only enter one and unfortunately it was rejected. This is the first time I have had a rejected piece of art that wasn't entered with others. 'Three Spirits' was rejected too but the other paintings I entered got in so it didn't matter.
     Anyway this led to a lot of reflecting on my technique and what I considered to be a good painting. So it was really a positive thing and helped my identify my weaknesses and areas I could improve on. It always feels very personal when your artwork that you put so much effort into gets rejected but you have to use these things to your advantage and come back swinging.

Balance Or Not

The Dreamers Reunion
Acrylic On Canvas
22 x 16"

Waning Influence
Acrylic On Canvas
16 x 12"

     Even though I have grown quite comfortable in creating artwork that straddles the line between abstraction and representation it still remains a frustrating challenge. I am often left wondering where the line should be drawn between the two, even though I am quite confident that the two ways can co-exist. Perhaps creation should always be a struggle though. Perhaps this is how we grow as creative people and excel in what we do.  Well if so then I will always welcome the challenge.

Isolation
Acrylic On Canvas Board
24 x 18"

     Near where I live there is a statue I believe is made from leftover concrete which is missing a head. It inspired the painting isolation above. It's amazing what can give such creative ideas. Inspiration is everywhere if you are willing to look. You can see the statue in the photo below. I don't know who made it or why but it adds character to what is quite an empty area.

 

River's Edge

River's Edge
Acrylic On Canvas
31.5 x 12"

     This one is purely decorative. I wanted to play with composition and make a piece weighted more towards the top with an expanse of colour underneath. This an idea I want to use in the future with one of my urban landscape works and it creates a nice contrast with the busier abstract areas.

More Of What I Know

Deus Ex Machina
Acrylic On Canvas
18 x 14"

Forgive Me My Sins
Acrylic On Canvas
18 x 14"

     Well at least my fortnightly visits to the Job Centre are giving me something back. The idea behind this series of paintings is about aspiration. I used an astronaut to show this as for me it represents the ultimate job and I don't think there is anything better beyond that. But here he is, this man with lofty dreams having to face the reality of what will never be. Maybe the theme is a little heavy but I need to put some emotional charge into my work and I think it resonates with the world we live in.