“Question of Illusion”

“Having come from a very traditional and disciplined style of painting where my colour palette was extensively considered and by blending and mixing certain colours became crucial to being able to obtain the perfect representation.  However since graduating from the Sydney College of the Arts in 2006, the four years of working in a completely different style of painting, has provided me with a sense of freedom and the ability to develop my own individual style within a contemporary art practice.

The use of colour is of significant interest and the actual process of how the colours naturally merge together and produce an interesting outcome is something that can be further developed.  The whole notion of the juxtaposition of light and dark which together play with the subject of spatiality, provides a dimensional quality to the work. The manner in which the materials create an almost phantasmagorical element by the way in which they shift from dark to light is something that can also be explored on a continual basis.

Having worked in many different mediums, one of my favourite styles was in watercolours, which pushed the boundaries of mixing and merging colours through washes.  The manner in which the colours naturally combined in such a translucent and natural way provided a feeling of spontaneity and freshness, which I wanted to take into another dimension.

To produce a piece of work that is the result initially of spontaneity where the outcome could result in an interesting and impulsive painting.  This takes the work into another dimension, as it requires the viewers to look at the work without any preconception and come to their own conclusion in regard to the subject matter.

The whole subject of illusion in painting is an area that can be developed further. Painting as a whole is all about visual representation, and through the exploration of the various differing techniques, I want to explore further ways in which through abstraction, I can produce work which supplies the viewer with a visual experience that is unique to each individual.

The idea that an abstract piece of work can be read in numerous differ rent ways it is through the mind of the viewer that supplies the missing link and forms an image for each individual.  The idea of impression and suggestion is an area that can be developed and the subject of taste and visual preconceptions is an interesting concept that would certainly be a continuation of my painting.

My work now comprises of painting on both primed and unprimed canvas, using diluted and non-diluted acrylic paint combined with various water and oil based varnishes.  Whilst a certain amount of control is exercised in applying the varying mediums, the final result is determined by the intrinsic nature of the paints and varnishes as they dry on the canvas. The final outcome can result in an image appearing out of the painting and taken to a more representational stage or else it will remain as a Question of Illusion.”