Current Work
The latter part of 2007 and into 2008 has seen a transition from pastels into oils. Although a change of mediums, it has been a progression of styles, as with each completed pastel they have become more 'painterly' and in my minds eye I have been able to envisage them as oil paintings.
The oils have been a breath of fresh air after being bound by the technicalities and constraints of water colours and pastels for so long.
The work starts as sketches in charcoal and pastel and develop into oil paintings.
After the success of the November 08 collection of small oils entitled 'Glimpses' I am currently working on another collection in a similar style for my Spring 09 show. The past works were all views in and around Nidderdale, maybe just a barn, pathway, or waterway, little glimpses of life in the dale that maybe hidden or very familiar to people living in the area. At the moment I am concentrating on two favorite locations, a series on Gouthwaite reservoir, a beautiful ever changing body of water and the dramatic landscape around Scar and Angram reservoirs.
I have developed a fascination of working a composition within a square. A subject which at first may look a little awkward, can, with a bit of balancing and tweaking end up looking quite pleasing and easy on the eye. I continuously strive to create atmosphere without the complication of detail, with varying amounts of success, but I find at the moment painting on this scale helps me to concentrate this aim.
