27. "H" is for Hospital
30cm x 30cm
Interactive Acrylic on deep edged canvas
2012
SOLD
Exhibited at Eagle Gallery August 2012 Exhibition (13th August to 7th September)
Winner “Inspired by Luton” prize at Luton Art 2012 (Tuesday 18th December – Sunday 17th Feb 2013)
Not accepted for Patchings exhibition/competition 2013 “The Artist” category but highly commended
Exhibited at the Eagle Gallery “The Garden and Beyond” Andrew Naish one man show 12th – 19th October 2013
Exhibited at 62nd Hertford open Exhibition 4th - 17th May 2014
It was serendipity all the way with this one. Telford Way in Luton was closed for demolition of an old railway bridge for eventual replacement with a nice bright blue bridge for the new guided bus-way, and I couldn’t resist a look with camera in hand. I took numerous photos of all the drilling, bashing etc. I love the marvellous parade of bright cones organising the road navigation. This temporary and fleeting appearance has its own unique beauty I find. Two photos included this image, though I failed to notice it at the time. I was actually photographing more cones and “Telford Way Closed, follow diversion” type signs, as well as a car trying to gain access to this road or the (still open) car park was in communication with a Day-Glo jacketed individual.
Amongst my numerous photos I must have caught something worthy of being the basis of a painting, and there it was hidden away in the very corner of this scene. A co-alignment of various verticals and horizontals, with warm and cheery colours on what was an early sunny day. There in the middle of it all a figure, perfectly framed by these lines pushing a pram through this urban jungle.
The photo was of such an enlargement, that the image was getting a bit fuzzy. I used this vagueness as a spur to rationalise coloured areas to their predominant colour. I returned to the principles of “Yellow Burst – Six Colour Remix”, though I felt it needed to give more detail to some areas. Using simple straight colours is also a good way to learn more about what one’s paints do. I now have a better awareness of the difference between cadmium red medium and cadmium red light.
I made a few distinct changes from the photo. Firstly the foliage should be a few tones lighter, but painted this way helps balance the large green sign. The sky was not really this blue (is it ever) and there was a division line through the “other routes” typography where two metal sheets were slightly out of alignment – I felt this didn’t really add to the story.
Titling this picture proved a pain, I was keen on “Luton in Bloom” but the wife was not so sure. I wasn’t keen on titles with the word ‘signage’ in but we found agreement in using some of the words written in the painting. If I do more of this type of thing – an “Urban Chic” exhibition if you like the pictures can be called “Other routes”, “Cyclists Dismount” and the like. “’H’ is for Hospital” is suitably functional. I feel a title trying to add to the pictures message is unnecessary. This image is an aesthetic exercise and you should make of it what you will from just looking at it.
Interactive Acrylic on deep edged canvas
2012
SOLD
Exhibited at Eagle Gallery August 2012 Exhibition (13th August to 7th September)
Winner “Inspired by Luton” prize at Luton Art 2012 (Tuesday 18th December – Sunday 17th Feb 2013)
Not accepted for Patchings exhibition/competition 2013 “The Artist” category but highly commended
Exhibited at the Eagle Gallery “The Garden and Beyond” Andrew Naish one man show 12th – 19th October 2013
Exhibited at 62nd Hertford open Exhibition 4th - 17th May 2014
It was serendipity all the way with this one. Telford Way in Luton was closed for demolition of an old railway bridge for eventual replacement with a nice bright blue bridge for the new guided bus-way, and I couldn’t resist a look with camera in hand. I took numerous photos of all the drilling, bashing etc. I love the marvellous parade of bright cones organising the road navigation. This temporary and fleeting appearance has its own unique beauty I find. Two photos included this image, though I failed to notice it at the time. I was actually photographing more cones and “Telford Way Closed, follow diversion” type signs, as well as a car trying to gain access to this road or the (still open) car park was in communication with a Day-Glo jacketed individual.
Amongst my numerous photos I must have caught something worthy of being the basis of a painting, and there it was hidden away in the very corner of this scene. A co-alignment of various verticals and horizontals, with warm and cheery colours on what was an early sunny day. There in the middle of it all a figure, perfectly framed by these lines pushing a pram through this urban jungle.
The photo was of such an enlargement, that the image was getting a bit fuzzy. I used this vagueness as a spur to rationalise coloured areas to their predominant colour. I returned to the principles of “Yellow Burst – Six Colour Remix”, though I felt it needed to give more detail to some areas. Using simple straight colours is also a good way to learn more about what one’s paints do. I now have a better awareness of the difference between cadmium red medium and cadmium red light.
I made a few distinct changes from the photo. Firstly the foliage should be a few tones lighter, but painted this way helps balance the large green sign. The sky was not really this blue (is it ever) and there was a division line through the “other routes” typography where two metal sheets were slightly out of alignment – I felt this didn’t really add to the story.
Titling this picture proved a pain, I was keen on “Luton in Bloom” but the wife was not so sure. I wasn’t keen on titles with the word ‘signage’ in but we found agreement in using some of the words written in the painting. If I do more of this type of thing – an “Urban Chic” exhibition if you like the pictures can be called “Other routes”, “Cyclists Dismount” and the like. “’H’ is for Hospital” is suitably functional. I feel a title trying to add to the pictures message is unnecessary. This image is an aesthetic exercise and you should make of it what you will from just looking at it.