101. Environ-mental
Interactive Acrylic on two small canvases on canvasboard –framed
430mm x 330 mm
£110
Exhibited at the "Environmental" themed show, Eagle Gallery Sat 3rd Feb - The 1st March 2018
So another year, another Eagle Gallery themed show:- “Environmental”. I must confess I struggled to come up with an idea that was more than just an Urban or Rural landscape. The subject felt political somehow and therefore deserving of comment through the piece in some way. I considered something involving a power station spewing smoke into the air, or a still life of some waste plastic bottles but again it wasn’t actively saying much.
It was my wife that came up with the idea – and instantly I thought ‘yes that’s the solution’.
I felt it needed to be 3d to add some interest and although it might have worked as a manipulated photo or an elaborate model (perhaps lighting up when you pushed the buttons); as a painter, I felt painting was the correct approach – “Because that’s what I do!” Now our living room wall is that grey- so although a floral wallpaper may have added an extra subtext and visual interest– hey I’m only depicting it as it is. (Though not textured as shown)
And here’s the rub. From my perspective, this is just a statement of fact with no malice intended. I feel certain that many a domestic dispute can erupt around these issues. The reality is that I accept that my wife likes it warmer and that I’ll have the temperature down a bit when I’m on my own. It’s no big deal.
This is the first painting I’ve produced where on completion I had no real reaction – a sense of “Is this OK? Better show the wife” but quite an empty feeling and lack of ownership. It’s like reading a sentence – just conveying an idea. Maybe floral wallpaper would have helped me feel that I had explored the idea rather than just conveyed it. (If you don’t like the gag you can examine how well I’ve painted the repeating pattern of the wallpaper.)
Well we will present it to the world in February and see what (if any) the reaction is. Incidentally the wife laughed when she saw it – so job done I guess.
430mm x 330 mm
£110
Exhibited at the "Environmental" themed show, Eagle Gallery Sat 3rd Feb - The 1st March 2018
So another year, another Eagle Gallery themed show:- “Environmental”. I must confess I struggled to come up with an idea that was more than just an Urban or Rural landscape. The subject felt political somehow and therefore deserving of comment through the piece in some way. I considered something involving a power station spewing smoke into the air, or a still life of some waste plastic bottles but again it wasn’t actively saying much.
It was my wife that came up with the idea – and instantly I thought ‘yes that’s the solution’.
I felt it needed to be 3d to add some interest and although it might have worked as a manipulated photo or an elaborate model (perhaps lighting up when you pushed the buttons); as a painter, I felt painting was the correct approach – “Because that’s what I do!” Now our living room wall is that grey- so although a floral wallpaper may have added an extra subtext and visual interest– hey I’m only depicting it as it is. (Though not textured as shown)
And here’s the rub. From my perspective, this is just a statement of fact with no malice intended. I feel certain that many a domestic dispute can erupt around these issues. The reality is that I accept that my wife likes it warmer and that I’ll have the temperature down a bit when I’m on my own. It’s no big deal.
This is the first painting I’ve produced where on completion I had no real reaction – a sense of “Is this OK? Better show the wife” but quite an empty feeling and lack of ownership. It’s like reading a sentence – just conveying an idea. Maybe floral wallpaper would have helped me feel that I had explored the idea rather than just conveyed it. (If you don’t like the gag you can examine how well I’ve painted the repeating pattern of the wallpaper.)
Well we will present it to the world in February and see what (if any) the reaction is. Incidentally the wife laughed when she saw it – so job done I guess.