'Think Loudly in your Quiet Mind'

'Think loudly in your quiet mind.'

Charcoal, pastel and gesso on paper

40cm x 50cm

This is the latest piece in the series. The title is again, a line from one of my poems. As the written word and the visual image become increasingly interwoven, you might wonder what comes first the work or the title? And you might also wonder whether it really matters. To answer the first question...most of the time I make the work and find a title for the piece after. Occasionally, I find a title and make the work to fit. In answer to the second question...I don't believe it does matter :)

'The Ending'

graphite, pastel and gesso on paper

40cm x 50cm

'Silently, reluctantly,

Break free from tomorrow'

The contrasting layers of dark and light are less integrated and more apparent in this piece. It appears as if the white that masks the subject is dissolving away and revealing the person behind which I hope captures the sense of meaning in the line of the poem. When I'm working in this way, I have to build up quite a bit of courage at times in order to paint over what I might feel is an already successful drawing. I'm making the under drawings with as much consideration and resolve as I would if I wasn't intending to paint over them. I can't afford to 'skimp' on the preliminary drawing as it just wouldn't work. Sadly, I do have a failure or two along the way which just so's you know, go straight in the bin...!  :) 

'The Secret'

graphite, pastel and gesso on paper

65cm x 45cm

'I look across the space and see 

A whole new world that I could be

a part of...'

I've used the ancient symbolism of the rose in this piece. The rose has been used since ancient times to denote secrecy. In mythology Aphrodite gave a rose to her son Eros as a sign to keep her indiscretions hush hush! I've also attached to the drawing another line from my poem. 

'Facing the Truth'

80cm x 60cm

charcoal, pastel and gesso on paper

'And while I sit here wondering why, 

My time without a trace runs by, 

And I am left forgotten' 

I've used the above lines from the end of a poem to capture the feeling in this piece. The subject is taken from one of my much earlier series of drawings which I've always promised myself I would return to, to develop the drawings further...and now at long last I have! And I must say it's a very satisfying feeling to fulfil a promise!  The lines of poetry fit nicely with the image and add another dimension to the work. I attributed the lines after I'd made the drawing, so they have in a sense, become an extension of the work. 

By the way, in case you were wondering...the lines are not appropriated, they are taken from one of my own poems...so no ensuing copyright issues on the horizon! :)

New Work

'Travelling Alone'

Charcoal, pastel and gesso on scored paper

65cm x 45cm

I've used quite alot of gesso in this latest piece which has resulted in the female figure in the drawing seeming as if she were transmuting into sculptural form. The ambiguity of this I like, and brings me closer to where I want to be with my work. And where is that I hear you asking...if only I knew is my answer to that!! But that's what makes creating art exciting...it's never quite knowing where the creative process will take you and at which destination the work will eventually arrive!

'Subway' reborn!

Charcoal, pastel and gesso on paper

70cm x 60cm

Some of you might remember the original version of this drawing from a previous exhibition back in 2011. It was then titled 'New York Subway (Early Morning)'. I've always liked the subject and recently became inspired to rework it with the methods I'm using in my current practice. I have to tell you though it took alot to follow the courage of my convictions and paint over this drawing but once I'd started...well, that was that there was no turning back! 

'Tear'

'Tear'

Graphite, pastel and gesso on paper

60cm x 50cm

Here is my latest drawing...it's about private moments...the pain of youth. A tear is shed whilst reading a text. It is how, much of the time we receive our messages these days...good news, bad news all channelled through the mobile.

Hope you are well...and happy like me that the Spring is here...yay! :) 

More drawings soon...