Oil on oak

Acrylic, oil and gloss on canvas

Both red paintings, acrylic, gloss and oil on canvas. After creating a structured image I wanted to go against the white angular areas with more free associated areas of brushstrokes. Having got old sketchbooks out recently I referred to a number of pencil drawings looking for a sense of movement but trying to achieve a non specificity that was in the mark-making. I had paint already mixed up from the grey painting, some were dark tones, so this decided what I used. I retained some areas by masking but not as many. Just like a memory, with some things fading but important things remaining.

Painting the chequered pattern was quite a laborious exercise taking time to fill in the squares and I was also doubtful whether it was right to do this. I wanted a decorative part where the  'tray' shapes meet to go against the physical aspect of the surrounding painted surface. I've since washed the squared areas, bleeding the colours into the grey white and black areas, thus hopefully keeping the work alive still.

old work

 

Just had a chucking out session which happens now and again but not ruthless and often enough to keep the daily onslaught of clutter at bay. Todays postings from an old sketchbook, probably around 2000, when I lived in Norwich for a bit. No dates, notes, titles - they are something and nothing. I quite like some of these sketchbook ideas, automatic drawings, beginnings of things, gestural, a bit R MacIntosh in a couple. Whether any blossom into the form of a painting or not they are nevertheless here in this virtual space, and I can be more ruthless in my trashing session next time..