Artist Statement
There are many reasons why I create art, but I think the most important one which resonates the most with me is that it is a fantastic tool to help me escape reality and get lost in a deep and meaningful process. I have always had a profound connection to nature from a young age, exploring natural areas and taking in the beauty the world has to offer. When I’m surrounded by nature I find peace and tranquillity. I am at one with my thoughts, which allows me to reflect on life which I think is incredibly important. The experiences that I have garnered exploring natural landscapes have helped me create so many wonderful memories of vibrant sunsets and wondrous night skies that I want to share with you through my art. I believe this is why my paintings have a surreal and expressive feel to them as they are an outcome of experiencing magical moments throughout my life and provides a glimpse of how I view the world translated through textured brushstrokes and harmonious colours. However, when viewing my landscapes, I hope they help you form connections to your own experiences of the natural world and take you back to a particular place or time in your life that is significant to you.
Materials and process
I take pride in sourcing the best materials for my work, not only does it help make the experience of painting more enjoyable, but it also helps to create a professional quality finish. Using quality materials and applying a well-researched process gives my paintings archival qualities, meaning that all my work will stand the test of time and last for many generations. This is important to me because I want my paintings to be as colourful and vibrant in the future as they were the day they were created.
The paints I use are by Michael Harding as well as Winsor and Newton, which contain the finest pigments. They are created by grinding gemstones and minerals from the earth and mixing them with linseed oil. The outcome is a thick and buttery consistency full of vibrant and true colours. These paints help me to achieve landscape paintings that glow and vibrate with a range of magnificent hues.
The brushes I use are by Rosemary and Co. As I am a quick and expressive painter, I tend to opt towards a hard bristle brush as they can take some abuse and are perfect for scrubbing and flicking paint around without getting damaged. I also paint with palette knives, which are a fantastic tool that I have begun using more often in recent years, as they allow me to scoop up large quantities of paint and apply thick impasto effects. The combination of brushes and knives leaves distinct marks on the painting surface, providing the viewer with a range of exciting textures to explore.
The surfaces I paint on are reinforced wooden panels, unlike canvases, these provide a rigid and hard surface that is extremely responsive to the marks I put down as well as scrape off. I prime the wood with two layers of gesso which gives me an even ground to work on and helps avoid any dull patches of colour as the paint sits better on the surface and doesn’t sink into the wood. After priming, I stain the panel with a warm colour, as this hides the white surface making it easier to judge colours and unifies the finished painting as small specks of the colour peek through, creating a harmonious effect.
