landscape sketch 07 Drawing

I use paintings and sketches to compliment my work as an architect. Painting provides me with a place to loosen up and explore new ideas. I work figuratively and non-figuratively centring around strong compositions and the contrasts between light and dark. In my compositions I try to develop moments of interaction and to create moods which allows for an open interpretation by the observer. When focusing on a theme for my work I like to define a set of boundaries or rules, and then to develop a series of paintings that explore those boundaries. This gives me a platform to evolve the idea whilst at the same time provides me with a framework to work within. I often work in a series exploring different aspects of a theme which is inspired by everyday situations and the people that surround me. This is exemplified in my couple series where random people, taken from my collection of photos and sketches, are brought together to create a narrative that is open for interpretation. I also find inspiration in the build environment, literature and other artists. I strive to achieve a balance between fore- middle- and back-ground and between composition, colour intensity and depth. I work by literally throwing and dripping watered down paint onto the canvas until the motif is covered. After drying the motif is repainted using thin washes of black and white. This process is repeated until the painting achieves the desired balance. By working in this fashion I am creating a richness in texture and depth. To compliment the textural qualities I have limited my pallet of colour to use mainly ochre, sienna, black and white, and splashes of orange. It is my ambition to capture the time and processes involved during the creation of my work.