Karl Bird

I was born and raised in Birmingham, UK. I studied at Birmingham School of Art as part of the BCU University. I moved to Bergen, Norway in 2011 where i am currently based.

The landscape and my environment provide my main source of inspiration and I find my eyes are more drawn to patterns and shapes in the world around me, than people or faces. I often focus on a natural element such as stone or water and fragment representations of these in my imagery. I like how aspects of nature inspire folklore and I often try to capture an element of fantasy within my work, it fascinates me how the human mind can imagine endless stories from seeing a tree or a rock, or even looking at the sky.
My methods are very improvisational and each piece is a relationship of action and response between me and the artwork which becomes a journey where the destination is unknown. I predominantly work with acrylic on canvas, as I work in layers, I rely on having a quick drying time. I float between processes in which I have a lack of control ie. drips, splashes, and spills, to then highlighting, outlining, or erasing areas in order to reach resolution. I may have a particular experience or place as something to work towards in order to reach harmony u...

Birmingham School of Art (BCU)
BA(Hons) Fine Art