The intention of this series of work is to take the viewer on a journey deep into the undergrowth, under, over and through to find new space within the internal landscape a place which positively fosters new growth.

It is one of a series of paintings that developed out of a process of working from torn up and then reconstructed imagery taken directly from the landscape in response to place. Working from this reconstructed imagery was helpful in terms of breaking down the subject matter and making it more accessible to me in terms of what it is that I wanted to say.

I call these working images “overlays” and they combine photography with paint using several photographs torn up and collaged back together to form a basic composition. I have then worked over them in acrylic paint to develop an active painterly surface thereby re-energising the image, bringing to it a sense of immediacy and physical presence. Applying the paint in thin layers creates a sense of depth inviting the viewer to step inside the work and share my experience of landscape as a refuge, a place to recharge and regenerate. 

There is a metaphorical aspect to creating new work from broken fragments in that it has become a positive symbol for nature's ability to continually regenerate and renew.

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For further reflections on this series of paintings see blog posts 05/04/22 and 17/05/22.