Self Portrait

Self Portrait
Artbar On Paper

     So this is me or at least close to me. I have often avoided the subject of a self portrait because I lacked the confidence that I would capture a good likeness. However my confidence has grown so much over the last year I thought I would make an attempt at it. It turned out pretty well and I got some good use out of Derwent's Artbar too.

At Sea

At Sea
Graphite On Paper
16.5 x 11.75"
 

      We all feel lost and out of place sometimes. It can be hard to focus our thoughts and find a way out of it all. I find drawing and painting to be an island of calm which is why I spend a lot of time doing it. I think its important to have a place you can go to escape for a while.

Comatose

Comatose
Acrylic On Canvas
20 x 24"

     The last painting I have done a line drawing for. I'm currently working on a picture of an old school that will really put my painting skills to the test. No safety of the line anymore.

Like Oxygen

Like Oxygen
Graphite On Paper
11.75 x 16.5"

     Anyone who creates anything will know what I mean by the title of this drawing. I could go without a lot of things and indeed I do, but to be without art would be no life at all.

Maw

Maw
Graphite On Paper
16.5 x 11.75"

     I wanted to see what I could do with large expanses of darkness and how it could be balanced out. Using a low perspective angle gave me the perfect opportunity to do this.

Ambition

Ambition
Acrylic On Paper
10.7 x 15.6"

     It is interesting to watch my work evolve from my own perspective and how it has changed over time. I have been wondering for a while now if my line work was holding me back from creating more spontaneous work. This is the first painting I have tried to create without a line drawing first. It certainly was a lot faster to do it this way and I wasn't so worried about messing up the lines. Sure the perspective is wonky but it was quite a liberating experience. So my experiment was a success and I will banish line to my drawings in the future.

Time Does Not Forget

Time Does Not Forget
Acrylic On Canvas
16 x 20"

     I wanted this up in time for remembrance Sunday. We should all be eternally grateful for the sacrifice these men made on land, sea and in the air. I cannot imagine the horrors of war and never want to experience it outside of a videogame but I am thankful for what these brave people did. Never forget but also never again I hope.

Now All We Make Are Memories

Now All We Make Are Memories
Acrylic On Canvas
24 x 30"

     As discussed in a previous post I am trying to make the abstract and figurative one. part of the problem is my reliance on line and I plan to rectify this in the future by working straight onto the canvas with paint. Here I really pushed the abstraction. You can see from the photo below it how much of the figurative was destroyed in the process. Very much a heart in mouth type of situation but you have to be brave if you want to see results.

Rain Over The Peak District Series

Rain Over The Peak District I
Graphite On Paper
11.75 x 16.5"
 

Rain Over The Peak District II
Graphite On Paper
11.75 x 16.5"

Rain Over The Peak District III
Graphite On Paper
11.75 x 16.5"

     Another series of landscapes base on the Peak District. A lovely part of the country that I may try to paint one day.

When It's Not Working

Guilt Engine
Acrylic On Canvas
24 x 30"

Guilt Engines
Acrylic On Canvas
24 x 30"

     That painting above is now the one below. I have been unhappy with my way of painting for a while now and realised I had strayed too far away from what I originally intended. I wanted to mix the abstract and the figurative together but my last several efforts have left me frustrated with what I had accomplished. The problem really was that I was treating the abstract and figurative elements as separate parts of the image. This proved unnatural and jarring so I resolved to blend the two together in a more natural way. With this image and "All We Make Now Are Memories" I hope to correct the problem.
     I think its important to identify problems with your work and be honest if its not working. I hope to keep learning and evolving in this way and never become complacent with what I create. We really do learn more from our failures than our successes.

Some experimental work.

Winter
Ink On Paper

Union Jack
Acrylic On Paper
111.75 x 16.5"

Communication
Acrylic On Canvas Board
7.9 x 11.8"

     Some fun little experiments. I think its important to try new things and throw paint around. Often new techniques can be discovered by just playing around and this makes experimentation very important.

Precipice Series

Precipice I
Graphite On Paper
16.5 x 11.75"

Precipice II
Graphite On Paper
11.75 x 16.5"

Precipice III
Graphite On Paper
11.75 x 16.5"

     Another series. This time landscapes. I enjoy the challenge of a series as you are trying to take a similar scene or theme and make it interesting several time over. This is particularly challenging when its a landscape but I always enjoy a challenge.

Remembering Summer

Waiting For The Sun To Shine
Acrylic On Canvas
18 x 14"

Shade
Graphite On Paper
16.5 x 11.75"

     Its cold outside so here's something to remember the warmer days. A drawing and a painting that go together. Even a year ago I never thought I would be confident in my drawing. All I had to do was find my own way of doing things. I still continue to grow everyday.

Perspectives On Time

Perspectives On Time
Acrylic On Canvas
23.6 x 23.6"

     Something a little further from home this time.It's Clifford's Tower in York. I went there in the summer and thought it would make a good painting. Also it gave me a chance to work on a square format.

Go Home

Go Home
Acrylic On Canvas
18 x 24"

     A more personal picture. They say you can't go home again but sometimes maybe you don't want to.

A Walk In The Woods

chromosome
Graphite On Paper
16.5 x 11.75"

Fallen King
Graphite On Paper
11.75 x 16.5"

So Release Me
Graphite On Paper
11.75 x 16.5"

Surface
Graphite On Paper
16.5 x 11.75"

     I went for a walk in the woods to clear my head. Made some interesting finds and nearly got run over by a cyclist. Don't worry though he managed to crash in front of me. He was ok and only came away with a bruised ego.

Jobseeker

Jobseeker
Graphite On Paper
11.75 x 16.5"

     Anyone who has applied for a job knowing how many other candidates there are for that one position will get this.