Narrative studies

I don’t set out to paint narrative pictures, they just happen to connect with a story. 

Sometimes it begins with a personal journey that I need to paint about.  ‘Judy and Doug’ and the ‘Red dress’ were both expressions of passing time and mixtures of deep emotion.

Other paintings begin with a more creative stimulus and develop narrative elements as I paint. Curiously it becomes a natural extension of the creative process.  I find myself thinking about the people, the setting and the meaning behind the picture as I work.  Sitting in the bar of the Renaissance Hotel, discretely sketching the businessmen having their meeting led me to reflect about the ‘business world’, society, family life….  ‘The meeting place’ grew from paint, colours, textures and thoughts.

‘Are clowns really happy?’ - they seemed to be when I visited Zippo’s Circus preparing for my Circus Exhibition, but you can never be sure.  What I did find was the strong community spirit that bound these travellers together, ‘Self supporting people’, day and night.

Bringing your own interpretation to these pictures can only add to the creative experience.