My Art

I have had a long standing interest in art and used to spend hours when I was younger drawing, doodling and painting.

I was told by my art teachers at school that I should think about pursuing a creative career as I had a natural talent. Being a typical head strong teenager I decided that I wasn't going to listen. That I didn't want to do something I enjoyed as a vocation as it would take the fun out of it. I saw art as something to do in my spare time - something I could do whenever I had five minutes to myself.

Of course back then I did not realise how little time you do get to yourself outside of work.

Some may argue that my career has lead me through a natural course to something more creative, after all I am a Web Designer.

You will also have noticed that I have a keen interest in design, photography and fashion so what am I complaining about?

Well I don't think it is enough.

It took a trip to Suffolk in 2005 to finally make me realise that I really need to get back in touch with my creative side. To pick up some paint brushes and give it a go!

Designing for the web is all very well but it does not allow very much freedom.

When you have to design something for some one else you can guarantee that 90% of the time you are never very happy with the results.

I have enjoyed lots of praise regarding my corporate web sites but I am rarely happy with them - there is always someone who feels they know better than me - someone who has seen something from a rival and wants to either mimic it or go one better. That is not true design or expressing ones self through art, it's plagiarism!

So I find myself on the career cross roads again. Aching to get away from the computer, desperately trying to find more time to paint and to sketch.

I have already started to keep a note book with me so I can jot down things I see and make rough sketches. I now hope I can bring this home and transfer it to some other tactile medium.

Of course this does not mean I will stop working online, especially on Trunk Guy. What it does mean is that I intend to use this section of the site to show off what I have achieved.

The images dotted about this page were created a while ago, these are a few pieces I am actually happy with!

There are lots of ideas that I want to place onto paper and canvas but I have made a start, getting used to the medium of acrylic paint. I have also doubted my ability to create anything abstract or impressionist. This is why my first couple of new canvases are bold designs. I think it is safe to walk before you can run, plus I know if I create something I hate I will probably give up!

These are the first new works I have put together in sometime, I have included a little piece of information on each:

	Niagara (2006) Niagara is very special to me, not least because it was my first trip into Canada but more importantly it was the place where Richard proposed. I knew this view would be very important and I wanted to capture it.
	Richard (2006) I wanted to create a screen print style portrait of Richard using brush techniques. I am very pleased with the finished painting, I think I have captured the areas of shadow and light really well and as one of my friends said "you can actually see who it is!" (charming!).
	Orford Ness (2005) Inspired by our recent trip to Suffolk, I decided to paint the brooding landscape of Orford Ness. I am not too keen on the boats but think the sky is a particular success.
	Autumn (2005) This is my first truly abstract piece of work. I took inspiration for the colours from the autumnal weather when I started this. It's my first attempt at acrylic paints on canvas and I wanted to make sure the colour was rich and warm.
	Valley (2005) Another abstract image, again using acrylic paints on canvas. I wanted this to represent an image to me, an image that is very familiar. It was originally based on the rolling hills of Devon but I added the coast to punctuate the contrasts in scenery at home.
	US (2005) I took the inspiration for the acrylic on canvas painting from the famous "Love" painting which I remember seeing in New York's Central Park. I wanted it to be more personal so I used Richard and my initials, joined with the heart at the centre.

Please feel free to take a browse at the works and send me your honest opinion. I find friends and family are often too kind with their comments so I welcome constructive criticism.

Watch this space!