Shelter from the storm Painting

Like most of my work, nature is the main inspiration for the shapes and colours in this piece. However this work is more about my personal mental and spiritual growth than representing anything particularly recognisable from nature. I have created shapes reminiscent of waterfalls, lotus flowers, fish and clouds without wishing to represent them in a realistic way. They are just symbols that hold significance for me. There are also abstracted shapes derived from gorintos - a series of shapes used in grave stones in parts of Japan that represent the five elements (earth, water, fire, air and infinity). I first became interested in these when I travelled to Mt Koya and learned about these mysterious shapes dotted across the mountain side. I have used this motif in a number of paintings since. Oil paint is applied in many thin glazes over a wooden panel. The glazes of oil paint create a translucent surface revealing subtle colour variations with prolonged viewing. There is also some spray painting in the under layers. There are also layers of texture built up by many successive layers of paint, sanded and painted over but leaving a highly textured surface. My main artistic inspiration is the work of JMW Turner. Boucher, Monet, Bosch, Chinese ink painting, Buddhist art are all influences. I also take ideas from Art Nouveau, Surrealism and fantasy art. Contemporary artists Chu Te Chun, Zao Wou-Ki, Chris Rivers, Ella Baudinet, Darren Waterston, Roger Dean and Cruz Jimenez all inform my work. I hope the viewer will find the themes universal and can see something of their own hopes and dreams reflected here.