"EXPECTATION" Painting

Duncan Hopkins lives and works close to the North Devon and Cornwall coast, in south west Britain. His drawings and paintings are carefully observed and improvised studies of the sea, coastline and rural landscapes.

He is interested in the atmospheric, topographical, structural and mathematical qualities of the landscape, its inhabitants and phenomena. Can painting and drawing describe, or help communicate or explain the affects of the landscape on the body and mind – consciousness, senses and sensations, feelings, emotions, imagination, fantasies, insights, analysis and reasoning?Or likewise, how do these human, personal things have effects on and within the landscape? The relationship between the landscape and its inhabitants, and the artist, can become quantitative, qualitative, mythic, primal or healing, during the experiences of living.

His images are grounded in drawing methods, and various forms of representation using mark and colour. He is researching and developing drawing and painting techniques based on historical practices. He works primarily with oils, with support work using charcoal, graphite, coloured pencil, pastels and silverpoint.

He continues his personal research into the healing, philosophical and historical aspects of Shamanism, Wicca and folk magic, and Buddhism. He has a current particular interest in Tibetan Buddhist thangkra paintings, and the Tantric arts.

He has over 40 years experience in the Arts, working in fine art, graphic and web design. He has also been involved in community art projects, such as artist-led galleries and spaces, and helping with small film and music festival events. His other interests include a bit of gardening, meditation, astronomy, and wandering around aimlessly.