Grounds For Divorce

Although the rocking horse is the focal point within this painting, as the hand painted text on the canvas states it is not solely about the horse. I am fascinated with how we interact and use objects as pawns within the far more complex aspects that often occur throughout life. With the use of totems, cyphers and text I wanted to examine and over emphasise irrationality and the emotions that we all feel at certain times in our lives, during moments that are complex and combustible. These emotions are so multi layered and yet we often return to a quite simplistic territorial game. Ultimately I enjoy capturing the subtext within human interactions and dilemmas, which prove infinitely fascinating

Grounds For Divorce Acrylic on Canvas 76cm x 90cm

The Thespian

When you walk passed a person you only really see the moment within that section of time. This painting to me personifies the title of my new collection of paintings ‘You Think You Know Me’. I have been once again experimenting with placing a figure within a constructed environment. This is a man now finding himself on the margins of society left reflecting on the fleeting prestige of his yesterdays. I wanted the painting to hold quite a hallucinatory vibe. The cats, broken golden cage and the kite with a key attached all seem as if they belong to a world of half sleep and we are perhaps watching a man’s past and present collide together.

The Thespian Acrylic on Canvas 70cm x 60cm 

The Insomniacs

I used the hare in this painting to represent quite simply the lust within a fledgling relationship which still holds within it instinctive animalistic tendencies. This painting was created to have quite a fleeting spontaneous meaning where love and lust are two very different words. Wild courtship that is new and exciting, but that exuberance will ultimately diminish with time. I wanted to position the figures facing one another in a way that is eager yet awkward. When push comes to shove often our instincts push us towards a particular behaviour. 

The Insomniacs Acrylic on Canvas 50cm x 70cm

The Virgin

With is painting I wanted to explore the nature of reflection upon opportunities that have passed by on the winds of time and also how an idle mind wonders to the stage of should of, would of, could of. The cat spiralling after what it needs is included to show the man that if you want something desperately and spontaneously and work with a degree of instinct you can obtain. The scale of the main figure is disproportionate to the grandfather clock. The object’s dominance symbolises literal static time and reinforces the expanse of time that is over his shoulder.

The Virgin Acrylic on Canvas 60cm x 50cm

Cold Feet

Although this is quite a small canvas I wanted to create an atmospheric background whilst continuing to experiment with the placement of figures within less traditional landscapes. I chose to portray the main figure with a transparent face as I felt that my method of applying text to the canvas could be used to convey the notion that this gentleman sleeps to see. It could become a sad temptation to perhaps rely upon the visual memories during the hours of sleep to act as a substitute for the day light darkness of reality and relying on the imagination to construct the face of a lover.  The hummingbird serves as a totem, which passes across the man’s face echoing his heightened remaining senses. The totems and hand painted text in this artwork were important to display the man’s present situation and the memories from his past.

Cold Feet Acrylic on Canvas 50cm x 50cm