about the art

The Philosophy

While the works are a reflection of my surroundings and my reaction to them, my hope is that each piece will reflect the emotions of, or evoke an emotional response personal to the viewer.

The concept of my business is to offer art in a variety of forms that is accessible to a wide market, and causes people to feel something of worth to them.

My gallery in St Clair offers a relaxed and friendly environment where visitors can view the works and if desired talk with the artist.

Through commission work I aim to offer original works that will reflect the image a client may wish to portray through various aspects of the interior design of their home or business.

I enjoy the process of working with the client to gain an understanding of their personality, the site and what they want the artwork to do for them.

The real fun comes from the challenge of finding within myself the emotion that will enable me to create the unique piece or pieces I know will be right for them.

Creating an Image

The combining of different colours, textures and styles results in works that evoke a wide range of emotions and convey quite different images.

Rather than being limited to artworks that hang on the wall, other architectural components can be introduced into the mix to create a total environment that portrays the image desired by the client.

To date I have produced architectural pieces including feature lights, fire and portico surrounds, door panels, inserts for major appliances, mirrors, etc.

Variety of situations

The works are strong enough to work equally well in domestic and commercial situations.

To date I have produced works up to 6 square metres and am able to produce much larger pieces if required.

The works can take on a different look and feel depending on the environment they are in and other pieces that surround them.

I have seen them fit well into restaurants, offices and homes that range from heritage to contemporary. In each situation they seem to develop a different personality.

My works so far have been designed for internal situations, however I am currently experimenting with products and techniques that will allow me to create pieces that will withstand the impacts of weathering, and even benefit from it.

The Materials

Drawing on the techniques I developed for my jewellery, I currently work primarily in copper, using heat and chemicals to develop an extensive colour palette, and techniques such as layering, hammering, and amalgamation to provide a wide range of textures.

I continue to experiment with new materials and techniques to develop fresh ways to express my feelings in works that excite the emotions.

The Process

I am often asked how long it takes to complete an artwork and there is no simple answer. I don’t work from drawings but from my heart with each piece being worked until it reflects the feelings in me.

I usually start with the shaping and then build the textures and colours until they feel right. I could continue until this is finished or stop at any stage knowing that what I have done is right but unclear where I want to go next. A piece may remain in that state for an hour, a day, a year, until I know I am ready for the next bit.

Once I have completed the colour, I take time to think about the framing and mounting which are important components of the works rather than an afterthought.

They help direct or challenge the eye, build on feelings evoked by the work and offer the viewer options. It can take some time before I know how I want to handle this.

As the designs are bold I like to use complementary materials such as steel and natural timbers for the framing.

Practical Design

As a person who has moved house frequently, I know the feeling of sadness when I cannot find a space to hang a favourite piece in a new home. For this reason I like to make my artworks flexible wherever possible.

Some of my abstracts work equally well vertically or horizontally and triptychs can offer many options.

Each component should be strong enough to stand on its own allowing the pieces to be separated for smaller areas.

For larger spaces, some triptychs offer the option of grouping horizontally, vertically or offset.

This design approach not only allows for a work to fit different spaces but also offers the opportunity for different perspectives and some eye catching shapes (a work recently sold, when grouped horizontally results in an artwork that is only 250 mm deep but stretches for over 3 metres).

Framing can also be used to add to the 3 dimensional feel of the works. The components of one large triptych have frames that stand out varying distances from the wall adding depth and interest.

Living with my art

I had often thought that if I ever created an artwork I might feel ‘well that’s quite clever but do I really want one on my wall?’

The truth is that I not only love creating the pieces, I love having them around me.

They have a sense of life, with new colours and things to see as you catch a glimpse from a different angle or in a new situation.

The changing light resulting from the coinciding time of day, season and weather conditions provide seemingly endless opportunities for new colour combinations that excite the emotions. The introduction of artificial lighting can add a further dimension.

While it may not be immediately apparent, each work contains a wide range of colours within it and the introduction of a new shade into the room (or removal of one from it) can change the feel of the piece and highlight aspects that had not previously been visible.