SEEKING THE LIGHT Painting

My work for the past 20 years has more and more, been influenced by the history of art. In particular, aspects of composition and colour. The work takes on various forms intended to draw in the viewer, create new and unpredictable cycles of thoughts and associations, providing an experimental chance to challenge one’s perceptions, perspectives and assumptions. In short, a work must allow the viewer to continually find interest and openly interpret to their own conception. In my current work the juxtaposing of bold colours strongly affects our eye’s ability to correctly perceive the colour. This is a phenomenon called simultaneous contrast. For example, when a strong blue is placed next to a light yellow, the yellow becomes more intense. In some instances, the colours will change completely. This in turn, affects the colour vocabulary of the finished work. In a similar way, the ability of the eye to perceive colour plays a part, colour vision is affected by after images and changing light. My fascination with colour began with this notion many years ago. I was shown a green square, asked to stare at it for 30 seconds then look at a white wall. The after image of the red square became green. I was hooked on exploring the way the brain perceives colour There's echoes of colour symbolism too, colour can affect or indicate mood, bring on an emotion, and convey a message. The theory of colour is vast and dominated artists work throughout history. It became the main influence of some major art movement such as the impressionist, pointillism, Fauvism, and abstract expressionism, to name but a few. The theory of composition also played its part throughout this time of exploration. The science and theory I hold in my hands, helps in creation, although, this has become more instinctive than measured. I will begin a painting with a single stroke of colour, and continue to layer the work until I feel the balance of colour and composition is correct. Sometimes, I will need to add one single mark of colour, to bring the finished piece to it's conclusion. I'm an artist on a continual journey, there can be no end. I learn from the past and continue to create the future. INFLUENCES Patrick Henry Bruce, Auguste Herbin The Park Avenue Cubist, The St Ives Group, the Impressionists, the Fauves, Hilma Af Klint .the science of colour. And many, many, more.