new horizons.

Precious Moments are the Quiet, 2006/7

Detail : Painting commission 2012

Hi everyone...

Im back from my little trip away -

And im feeling refreshed and excited to get back to the studio.

Its amazing how a few days away can be so precious and so restorative. 

Two days can sometimes feel like two weeks - in the right place, and more importantly, with the right people. I went to visit some very dear friends that left this Emerald city about two and a half years ago, for a new adventure and a new beginning. 

And lucky for me they invited me to visit, share in their new life with their new beautiful baby boy.... and just relax! 

Which is exactly what i did. 

Especially since Ive just taken on a massive new commission for two massive new paintings  Exciting? Yes. Daunting? Oh yes indeedy. 

Starting a new commission from scratch is an amazing adventure. You meet with your clients, see their space, talk over ideas, discuss artworks of inspiration from your portfolio, and most importantly, get a feel for what they love... and what they may love to live with! 

Then you go back to the studio, have a coffee or three, sit, think, think some more, and then... panic! No just kidding. 

What you do next is draw. 

And with two big paintings to tackle I thought I would super-size my drawings, and start to get a feel for the size, and all that colour!

At the top of the post you can see a triptych mix media work on wood that I completed in 2006-7 for another commission. Its colourful, moody and tells a story about the quiet and reflective moments that you experience while sitting by a pond or watery garden. 

My new clients loved this work and it has now become the starting point for one of the canvas artworks that they have commissioned.

Two pieces of A1 paper coming together to form the right dimensions for this drawing/sketch.

To paint BIG you need : a big space, a lot of art materials, a pair of comfy converse, an apron and a pair of big earphones to listen to a lot of music while you work!

A couple of large sketches from 2010 that I pulled out to draw inspiration from.
On the left it reads: 'Trying to find the mark, the line, the essence...'

This is a detail from my second drawing... 

And this is what it looks like now. Im happy with it and Im hoping my clients like it too! 

So Ive submitted two drawings for approval.

Then now its onto the next set of sketches for the even bigger painting that they have commissioned! A 3-metre painting on canvas that will be the largest work that I have ever done.

Boy Im lucky to have been given this opportunity to move my artwork into new territory. 

Stay tuned for the next instalment to this exciting new adventure x