02 Alpine scene - Painting

Martin Stephen is an abstract expressionist painter and musician from Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom, working with a variety of medium including oil on canvas, gouache / acrylic on paper and board. Drawings, sketchbooks a foundation for surrealist ideas often used as the basis for larger paintings. The artist also works with digital composites, photo / video art and multi-media projection for live performance. With music, improvisational sessions may be recorded and post produced utilising effects and collage techniques. I relate to the thoughts and processes found in the work of Joan Mitchell, Jackson Pollock, De Kooning, Arshile Gorky, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Alan Davie (who I met in the 1990’s) Hans Hoffman for push / pull theory. Inspiration from : Abstract expressionism (1943 - 70) Cobra group (1948 - 51) Expressionism (1905 - 20) Free - jazz (1950's / 1960's) German experimental scene / early progressive rock (1967 - 80's) Music improvisation has played a key role in this artists life. Piano, drums extended to work with early synthesisers creating a catalogue of recorded work based on improvisation since 1998 working with traditional instruments, emulators, effects and production techniques. Expressionist art an extension of this artists creativity retained the foundation and principles of fine art painting yet embracing collage and multimedia work with spontaneity and expressive freedom. INFLUENCES Abstract expressionism (1943 - 70) Cobra group (1948 - 51) Expressionism (1905 - 20) Free - jazz (1950's / 1960's) German experimental scene / early Progressive rock (1967 - 80's) Psychedelia (1967 - 69)