Time for something new…
So those of you who have been following me a while will know I have been painting crows/ravens for a long time. This particular series “Macabre Messengers” I’ve been working on for over 2 years. Now 2 years might not seem that long, particularly to some artists who work on a theme for a lifetime!… but these things are always personal, and only you know when it’s time to move on.
And well… it’s time.
“Macabre Messenger” Acrylic and mixed media on wood panel
I’ve always been interested by things that are somewhat macabre, I have a love of gothic horror and spooky stories from my mum who introduced me to Dracula as a child. A difficult read for an eleven year old but I was hooked!
This love of the macabre brought me to the crow, they are synonymous with all things dark like an unofficial mascot.
When I started this series my aim was to try and showcase corvids as more than just a gothic cliché, using abstraction for the first time I wanted to explore a new way of painting realism. A disrupted realism as it’s sometimes referred to. Using this expressive method of painting I wanted to create lots of emotion, energy and movement whilst still capturing the essence of a crows personality. They are intelligent, charismatic but vicious if provoked. Showing this personality was incredibly important but probably the most challenging especially as I was trying to move away from realism.
“Why a Murder” Acrylic and mixed media on Panel
Although I don’t think I quite accomplished what I was trying to achieve, I got very close. As artists I don’t think you’re ever fully happy with your work. There’s always something you can improve on, something that didn’t quite work. I look at paintings I did 10 years ago and I cringe…. but I think that’s the same for most artists. You learn a lot on this creative journey.
One thing I know for sure, I enjoyed creating this series, I had a lot of fun with it. It was challenging and it pushed me, at times I couldn’t stand the site of these paintings but when I came through the other side, it was the most incredible feeling of satisfaction and gratitude for what I had achieved. Overall I’m proud of this series and happy to move on.
If you’d like to see the “Macabre Messenger” series, a selection of paintings are currently exhibiting at Heart Gallery in Hebden Bridge as part of their “Enchanted Tales” Exhibition, running until the 2nd of November. Click the link for more info.
Now I know I will never say never when it comes to painting corvids again….I will probably come back to them at some point in the future. But for now, it’s time for something new. It will be difficult to move on as I have gotten comfortable with this theme, like a security blanket I know what to expect and how to create them but as a lot of artists say, if it’s not difficult then it’s not worth doing!
So what’s next!
Dandelion and Nettle - Works in Progress - Oil and Acrylic on wood panel
Well… may I introduce you to “Floral Misfits”….
A new series exploring the underrated, miss-understood and deadly species of the botanical world…
Inspired by my love of gardening, nature and of course the subtle macabre undertones that are always a key theme in my work.
Not your typical floral paintings, I want to explore the flowers and plants that go un noticed, under appreciated or that we need to stay well away from!
Flowers also have lots of folklore and hidden meanings which I have just started to read into, so I’m excited to find out more.
If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, then make sure you are signed up to my newsletter to get first access to any new paintings.
Thanks again for reading.