Solo Exhibition 2021

This series of recent paintings were inspired by the landscape and coastline of both Wales and Cornwall. Many of these were created during lockdown, a particularly intensive period in the studio. I felt very fortunate to have my workspace in the garden and be able to simply carry on working. It was definitely a time when I felt completely focused and was keen to drive the work forward experimenting with new ways of making marks and creating more complex surfaces. In a strange way not being able to venture out that much in the landscape made it even more vital to recreate the sensations of being outdoors in paint.

I actually felt a great sense of freedom when working on these paintings. There are also varying degrees of abstraction. The ‘Earth Song’ series have horizontal forms suggesting landscape but they are filled with a light that almost totally dissolves form. This atmospheric effect appears in many of the other works too, notably the ozone filled ‘West Coast – Surf’.

The Welsh landscape obviously features strongly in these new paintings. I always try and capture the grandeur of the dramatic hills and valleys whilst at the same time suggesting how these are transformed by changing light and weather conditions. Rock formations and the grey and blue tones of underlying slate are also suggested.

I hope you enjoy this new collection.

To view the exhibition please go to the website of Martin Tinney Gallery

www.artwales.com