Sunday 2 February 2014

Moving Forward

Ideas, development and the inner voice.

One thing is certain, the last 2 years have made me reflect on what it is that I am trying not to say and to attempt to resolve what I am wanting to say.
It has strengthened my resolve in attempting to push myself into making work that is without a known starting point or outcome. 
Why? 
Because there comes a point where you need to ask questions.
Naturally these questions are as a direct consequence of everything that has gone before - events that have an impact on your psyche that call into question the very core of your belief system and bring about bouts of uncertainty in everything that you do. 
Searching for satellites.
It's about identification, trying to distill the essence of my internal machinations.
Not easy.
Definitely, not easy.
Hmmm....
I strongly believe that the drawing, painting, print et al should be the by-product of the act of exploration/ investigation.
I was at the Louise Bourgeois exhibition the other day. It made sense. Yes, at times disturbing, uncomfortable but ... oh so, real. The work's strength came from a desire/ need to express, regardless. It was not about picture making. I was talking with my colleague Siobhan about this and how this was also evident in the work upstairs at the NGS of Joan Eardley a favourite artist of hers. The landscape on show demonstrated quite clearly that Eardley was trying to convey the physical experience of the landscape rather than a trite pleasant rendition. 
Hey but what do I know?
Sometimes it feels as if the answer is very little. 
Maybe painting should be about fitting in with the decor?
Maybe I should be silent.
Maybe I should stop feeling at odds.
Maybe I should just ....
Maybe
Maybe not.
Actually, definitely not.

Rant over.

Latest prints. As is the norm the following images are one off images, some work, some don't, but all are as a direct consequence of an open ended investigation. At present I am still trying to allow for the unexpected, one of the things that I think has mileage is the combination of a faint previously printed plate and sparsely applied inking on another. 
On the other hand ...




















Also, recent paintings have presented new thoughts alongside old thoughts. Everything is in flux.