Paintings on this page have representational or figurative subject matter. Whilst all my work is slightly symbolic in some form or another, this collection of work sources both an interest in flora, decorative pattern, the divine feminine or a combination of all three.
Renaissance Women
Winter
width 82 cms
height 99 cms
depth 3.5cms
acrylic on canvas with painted black battening
This was the first figurative piece after the M.A. I had been studying the cult of the Madonna, the Arts and Crafts Movement, the resurgence in symbolism through Gothic aesthetics and the ancient spiritual cult of "Divine Feminine". I wrote a short story about an 11th century Countess who paid the King 500 marks to remain single for the rest of her life. I was making the most ridiculous things and taking them into seminars. At one point I brought in the Madonna's fish slice which I had made by burning/embroidering and twisting voiles and gossamer fabrics in red and gold until they became "divine tools". The concept behind this was divinity embraces the Gaiya theory, (woman becomes nature, her presence creates nature, life flows through and from her). At one point I produced an installation in my car which was completely covered in embroidered fabrics and titled it, "Mother Mary does the school run". It came complete with baby jesus gold booties swinging from the mirror.
Spring
width 93cms
height 118cms
depth 3.5cms
acrylic on canvas with painted black battening
Summer
width 92cms
height 106 cms
depth 3.5cms
acrylic on canvas with painted black battening
original sold. prints available.
Autumn
width 98 cms
height 114cms
depth 3.5cms
acrylic on canvas with black painted battening
original sold. prints available.
Just a few words to save a lot more.
As I will explain on a page I have, as yet, not written, I make all my own stretchers and frames. By frame, I think it passes on the Saatchi site as battening. This battening is what used to be called, 2 by a half timber, but these days will be 1.5 x 3 cms.
This means that by the time I have planed individual lengths for the stretcher and cut the 45 degree corners for both the stretcher&frame and chiselled out for the supports, hours if not days have passed. My chippy skills have improved as I have got older but the whole process is very tiring.
Consequently I don't always put a frame around the image, I let the image flow around the sides of the stretcher.
I would have to plan that, in terms of sheer size of canvas, long in advance. If the composition needs more room, I will abandon that plan and put a frame around the image.
This is what normally happens.
I have recently had a small woodwork shed built in the garden. Sanders and paint don't mix well.
I have tried to give an idea of scale differences in my paintings by minor adjustments with the scale of the digital image. I can't do this in proportion as you would then be looking at a very small digital image followed by a huge one. Not a terribly restful website experience.
I'm going to stop writing "Acrylic on Canvas" as I stopped using oils years ago. I couldn't bear the smell in the studio or the endless solvents on my skin.
Flora
Fritillary Firework. H 82cms x W 102cms x 4cms Acrylic on canvas with navy blue painted battening.
Floral Tribute H 93cms x W 81cms x D 4.5cms Acrylic on canvas. The image goes around the stretcher/no frame.
Paisley Light H 64cms x W 64cms x D 5cms acrylic on canvas with deep black painted battening
Primrose H 61cms x W 64cms x D 5cms acrylic on canvas with black painted deep battening
Water Iris H 110cms x W 83cms x D 4.5cms acrylic on canvas with navy blue painted battening
The Cathedral H 66cms x W 53 cms x D 5cms Acrylic on canvas with deep black painted battening
Hiding in Plain Sight H 95cms x W 81cms x D 4.5cms no frame, the canvas wraps around the stretcher.
Digitalis H 100cms x W 81cms x D 4 cms navy blue battening frame
The Glade H 94cms x W x 81cms x 4cms no frame as the canvas wraps around the stretcher
Summers Eve H 52cms x W 48cms x D 3cms navy blue battening
Little Blue Line H 47cms x W 49cms x D 3 cms navy blue battening
In Memoria H 102cms x W 107cms x D 4.5cms navy blue battening
Intrusion 2 H 56cms x W 52cms x D 4cms this painting currently has no frame at all. the canvas is attached to plywood. I have pictured it here with a frame as its "sister" painting does have a frame which looks like this.
Intrusion 1 H 68.5cms x W 64cms x D 4cms This is the only painting I have which is in a frame built to fit by a company. It is plain black wood with a small gold liner although it's showing up as white on this image for some reason.
Joy H 125cms x W 124cms x D 4cms black battening
original sold.prints available.
original sold.prints available.
The Sea
Greece H 95cms x W 102cms x 3cms black battening
original sold. prints available
Venice H 95cms x W 102cms x D3cms black battening
original sold. prints available.
original sold. prints available.
Somerset H 95cms x W 102cms x D 3cms black batten frame
In Your Wake H 76cms x W 96cms x D 4cms white handmade frame with solid ply back, (also painted white). The image is slightly recessed into, and protected by, the framing.
More Women
Equinox H 108cms x W 90cms x D 3.5cms black battening
Solstice H 110cms x W 89cms x D 3.5cms black battening
Queen of the North H 109cms x W 81cms x D 3.5cms
Queen of Hearts only available as a digital print as I utterly wreaked an adjustment to the face and destroyed the canvas.
Queen of the East H 102cms x W 76cms x D 3.5cms black battening
original sold. prints available.
original sold. prints available.
The Bet H 94cms x W 80cms x D 3.5cms black battening