It has been a while since my last post.. It’s been a period of personal growth.. –  disappointment and uncertainty have been a constant companion as I find my feet as an artist. I’m particular about my art, so being in a frame of mind where I’m unclear in my mind as to the next painting I want to undertake has hampered my progress somewhat. I’ve explored some new ideas and there is light at the end of tunnel. Some of the work I thought I’d start were canned a day or two into the process (several times..) What sometimes seemed a good concept one day became a thorn in the side the next, as I grappled with notions that it was not good enough.

It’s not easy to admit we’ve walked into a brick wall of sorts. It’s like having writers block, but not.. I’m confident in my ability as a painter, but I don’t want to paint a subject I don’t have an affinity with. The painting for me should elevate not only the viewers disposition toward the subject / painting but also gratify the artist.. Having looked at numerous artist’s work I revere, its apparent to me that they must have felt something similar – or at least that’s how it comes across to me. It shows in the work. Failure is important, as through that we learn.

In a previous post Influences / June 2015 – I talked about how eminent artists, influences can inspire. Whilst going through stumbling blocks and search for inspiration I’ve also been through a phase of intrigue for the photo-real, yet in this is also a process of change with wanting to convey neo-expressionistic sensibilities and abstraction. The style we work in can define our work, how and what we paint. I deduced that pattern and form play a huge role in what appeals visually, as it’s evident everywhere around us and comes into play irrefutably in painting. Deciding on a particular path can be daunting, and commitment to a particular style can stifle.. Exploration of paint and style are essential I think in awakening the aura of a work. These are some of the  transitions that play a role in an artists story of his paintings..