I was scrolling through some old images tonight to a time some years ago when I would often paint from the early evening till the early hours of the morning. I would take lots of photos and going by this one I was trying to imitate what I was creating on canvas. In this case a self portrait titled ’Suspended Infatuation’.P
At the time I was paying homage to artists who had inspired me in so many ways throughout my life. There is also some sort of straight jacket which seems to be untied.. possibly a metaphor for being set free by art? Perhaps. Was a long time ago.
I remember I had collaged on to the canvas some real twine (which I am being suspended by) and also included the actual paint brushes which were used earlier on in the works progression. I like to do that.
Although it’s difficult to see here, I have also included a scratched in line from a poem I wrote (“The Gift”):
“No breeze can hold it, this gift this life. Unbridled imagination, a string less kite”
The photo reminds me of the feeling of wonderment or the loss of inhibition one can experience alone with just yourself, your brushes, mediums and canvas. The stimulus and studio hours are somewhat different for me these days but I still lose myself at the smell of linseed as I enter that realm.
If you have time, I dug out something I wrote in my sketch book at the time of the painting.. a little heavy on sentiment but I think it expresses where my mind was at during painting it.
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I am buoyed by the legacy of great painters, both past and present.
Like a painterly tapestry, the influences of the masters interweave within me, imbuing my work with depth and resonance. The ethereal strokes of Van Gogh guide my hand, infusing my art with vibrant passion and emotional intensity. The luminous hues of Lloyd Rees illuminate my palette, whispering secrets of capturing light and the fleeting essence of nature. Picasso's daring experiments in form and perspective inspire me to challenge conventions and embrace innovation.
But it is not only the masters of the past who bestow their inspiration upon me. The contemporary painters of our time, the trailblazers who push boundaries and redefine artistic expression, add their voice to the symphony of inspiration. I feel the rhythmic pulse of abstract expressionism as embodied by Basquiat, the intricate details and narrative depth of Brett Whiteley, the simplicity and humour of Leunig and Mombassa and the thought-provoking conceptualism of Dali and Warhol.
