Rise up, rise up Print

This work was inspired by the resilience of nature. I looked at plants growing back in several places where I thought they had died. A local derelict factory now has all sorts of plant life over growing it. In my garden I had covered an area with wood chip and was surprised to see perpetual spinach reappear. The most inspiring example for me is the way a forest constantly regenerates. I sketched an ancient oak tree, long ago struck by lightening and hollowed out, yet still producing new growth every year. Like most of my work, nature is the main inspiration for this piece. I’m fascinated by the play of light through mist. I wanted to capture these light effects and the mood of a misty morning walk in a forest. I paint in the studio mostly from memory with only occasional reference to my sketches and photos. Working this way allows me to break free from making a more representational image. It is not about a specific place or plant or landscape. It is more of an expression of how I feel about the place and probably says more about my own internal journey than a particular subject. 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 calligraphic-like marks inspired by the flutter and flash of insects caught in misty morning light. These quick, intuitive marks also represent for me the flow of energy in the universe. My main artistic inspiration is the work of JMW Turner. 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 and Cruz Jimenez all inform my work. I hope the viewer senses the quiet movement in the shapes and colour palette and the feel of life returning where we thought it had maybe ended.