Monday 18 May 2020

Musician portraits, 17 May 2020

My next two paintings of people I love and admire were easy to choose, Kurt Cobain from my University days and Mick Jagger, icon of the sixties.  These key figures resonant to my past have been great influences on my art.  I’m drawn to their uniqueness, which I continually aspire to achieve.
There are many parallel’s between art & music and as I listened to a really interesting interview with Jools Holland and Christine & the Queens the other night, I agreed with her influences.  Bowie for continually changing and showing us different facets of his personality and the unique voice of Bjork.  I would also add Kate Bush and Blondie to this category.  To listen to the full interview, click here:
I love the ‘whitened out’ face look which I’ve achieved in my Jagger portrait.  The whitened out face is something that’s been around for a long time past and present.  In pop video’s, for example Bowie’s ‘Life On Mars, one of my favourite songs, his face is completely white with just his lipstick and green eye shadow showing. It’s a technique used by mime artist's like Bowie, in stage and television lighting and particularly in fashion photography where straight frontal light eliminates the features.  Hark back to the Goth period too and it’s musical influences. 
I mixed things up a bit with Jagger, whereas Cobain uses a more traditional oil approach working from dark to light, Jagger is based on a watercolour technique leaving the canvas mainly white and then applying colour, giving it a light and loose feel.  Both paintings are available to purchase, contact Marvellous Art Gallery or Facebook me.


Mick Jagger, oil on canvas size 40x45cm



Kurt Cobain, oil on linen size 30x30cm


Flash back, pre Covid-19, Tim Fowler exhibition ‘IMPACT’, 8th-29th February 2020

Tim Fowler’s ‘Pop Art’ portraits are captured with fast energetic brush marks in a vibrant, rich colour palette.  He uses abstract shapes, bold marks and liberal strokes to create an essence of form.  I like his signature palette of pinks and blues that create a striking contrast between hot and cold on the canvas. 
Silver Screen legends and famous characters featured in the exhibition included Marilyn Monroe, Mohammed Ali and Malcolm X.  My favourite was Marilyn Monroe as I feel it exemplified her character, deciding to paint from a straight gaze with bold features gives a confident feel, but there is a tenderness in her eyes and the pink hues surrounding her; a combination of confidence and vulnerability.  The rapid, vibrant brush marks may add a psychologically chaotic nature to his portraits. Here are some photo's from the Private View.

















Friday 10 January 2020

A Change in Direction, 10 Jan 2020


The human element has always featured heavily in my work, so it seems a very natural progression to move from painting ‘landscapes with feeling’ depicting figures within a landscape, to individual portraits of heroes, admirations and inspirations.  People I love and admire particularly from my long-standing interest in music and popular culture, the pretty and the beautiful, alive and dead.  I’m interested in capturing the feeling of beauty and the feeling of presence in a pared-down style.  The character and psyche without all the unnecessary details.
All paintings are available from Marvellous Art Gallery, Belvoir Street, Leicester


'Kate' Bush
Oil on linen
30.5cmx30.5cm
12inx12in


Kurt (Tribute to Kurt Cobain)
Oil on linen
30.5cmx30.5cm
12inx12in


Kurt Under Trees
Oil on linen
30.5cmx30.5cm
12inx12in


'Be Free' Seascape
Oil on linen
30.5cmx30.5cm
12inx12in