Recent (very overdue!) work

Recent in that these initial images go back almost a year when the desire to create work again finally, after leaving Art school nearly 20 years ago, kicked in and went into something resembling overdrive.

Ideas have been bubbling away for a year or two but most of them I gave to my senior pupils for their folios. It took the work (and music) of John Squire, the peeling painted hull of an upturned rowing boat and the desire to make my work look as colourful and textured as my palette to be the final lighting of the touch paper.

 

The upturned peeling hull of the boat as mentioned above.

My work has initially centred around my interest in WW1 and particularly the development of the different forms of camouflage during that period. I am interested in the faith that men in the field placed in this new art form/science and how it affected the look of the various battlegrounds from the Atlantic, across the Western Front and into the skies above it. The fact that artists on all sides were responsible for its development is also of interest to me. Having been brought up in the church, I also find the intrinsic faith in God during these times interesting. Looking back at this aspect of the conflict from these 'faithless' times, the contrast is striking. Although no longer a practising Christian, the idea of faith providing strength and almost a shield in a similar way that camouflage provided a form of protection to the soldiers of the Great War is one that I am enjoying exploring.Although its effectiveness is unquantifiable, the boost to morale that camouflage brought was measurable. Since being introduced to the work of John Baldesarri and Mark Tansey in my final year at Art school, I have found visual allegories a useful way of expressing my ideas. Coupled with my interest in symbolism, again forged at Art school, I have found myself to be developing a satisfying and workable visual vocabulary, quite suited to the subjects I am exploring.






Spirit of '42
Watercolour, gouache, acrylic, pen on paper

This is one of the first resolved pieces to come from last summer's ideas. This is almost like a sampler piece in that it's setting down much of the visual vocabulary I have chosen to use: morse code, diagrams, naval alphabet, WW1 camouflage, biblical quotes, etc.
The title of the piece is a direct link to my Grandfather who was a chaplain in the R.A.F during WW2. The only sermon I remember him preaching during my childhood was from Ephesians chapter 6 which talks about putting on the armour of God, the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, etc. I think these lines work well with the concept of putting your faith in something that offers you physical protection such as camouflage as well as putting it in a spiritual being. Again, the visual allegories go well together (IMHO)
The 'Spirit of '42' alludes to the year that my Grandfather volunteered for service and that the importance of what I heard him preach didn't really impact on me until many years after his death.

What I am also really enjoying is how many of the artists and designers I have used as teaching influences over the past nearly two decades are subconsciously directing what's happening here. I'm also enjoying being able to be more of a printmaker (albeit a kitchen table one) in that I am using stamping, printing and transfering techniques which allow me to deviate from the paintbrush but still make an interesting mark.