Refraction no1 Painting

Having been in the fashion design industry for some time I often refer to stress being the catalyst for me to start painting again as an outlet during a low point in my life. Now I draw upon the duality of the wider world of popular culture stemming from fashion and creativity and the need to express from an artistic, less restrictive standpoint. My practice draws on identity, experience and the tension created between the two. I work mainly in abstract using acrylic paint however my intensions are to explore notions of tension and texture within my works, whether through materials like mixing fabric, sand and plaster etc with paint or through gesture and the use of non traditional tools like household cleaning brushes or building/ DIY tools to create gesture and mark making. I primarily use monochrome black and white palette as a nod towards my love of black and white photography. I find a certain truth within the depth of a photographic image citing Herb Ritts, Peter Lindbergh or David Bailey's work as inspiration. I guess through the abstract work I produce I channel blurred and abstracted photographic imagery in my mind. My vast experience as a designer means I am constantly battle with myself, vying against creating the beautiful curated image or collection, or creating merchandised colour and so on. I find the more I try to avoid that world the more it informs much of what I do. I realise the processes and the environment I have been used to for two decades prove to be strengths with the creation of my works so I am at the stage of 'letting go' to further become myself in order to express. As a result I have developed further into an additional routes like using collage mixing gesture and imagery, the use of creating pattern and loose repetition and creating soft/semi soft sculpture. I see this as part of my continued journey of discovery and expression of the self while influencing others through my work.