Through the predominant use of oil paint, my artistic practice transcends the conventions of traditional landscape painting to invite the viewer into a constructed fictional space that encourages them to interact with the composition in a way that is unique to them. I refer to my artworks regularly as ‘abstract landscapes’ – a phrase that seems highly contradictory – yet fully defines my painting process as, once resolved, each is most likely to be interpreted as a form of landscape but has been constructed through explorations and methods of abstraction.
The sense of ‘somewhere other’ is represented through a bold and colourful palette, as well as varying techniques of careful blending, expressive mark making and deliberate scraping back into layers of paint underneath to create a narrative that allows for fluidity between the foreground and background.
Furthermore, there is often an omission of clear structure or a definite horizon line in my work, given the abstract origins of each piece. However, as I progress further into a painting I use suggestive and expressive marks in a more thoughtful and conscious way to allude to aspects of the natural environment. These familiarities found within the paintings provide the viewer with a sense of stability and recognition with the world they are accustomed to, while the more abstract formations deliver a sense of escapism, resulting in my work being caught somewhere playfully between the two.
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