I got a bit lost for awhile trying to figure out want, why and how I wanted to paint. I was dabbling in too many different styles but not being comfortable really in any of them. Out of desperation  (I guess you could call it that, now I look back) I returned to the oil on board I started awhile back but had got stuck on.I created a 3D scene predicting fairies with fancy dress animal heads having a boat race. Made from oil paint and mixed media it has a clumsy, childlike yet innocent quality that makes it rather endearing. This was, in a way, my turning point.
It started to allow me to show a quirky side to my character. I got pretty good feedback so I was happy.

Sticking with fairies I played with ideas on small canvas boards, using acrylics, inks and pipe cleaners.

It was advised that if I wanted to paint in small detail, then try using MDF board as it has a smooth texture compared to the grainy texture of canvas.

This next image evolved from Simon wishing his team - Nottingham Forest - would win 10-0 every game. 'Fantasy Football'  is on MDF  61 x 91.5 x 0.6 cm using acrylics. It depicts a bunch of football fans going to watch the match on a big screen TV. In this case instead of using public transport to go to the pub, the fairies gather in the forest and their mode of transport is the tree fairy; from stars to fairies with one swish of her wand.

Got good feed back overall, they liked the idea of looking through and particularly the detailed crowd in  front of the TV. It was advised not to put writing in as this makes the image literal instead allow the viewer to decide for themselves what is going on. Need more work on the technical side as well, which I knew, but this is a successful picture for me because it allowed me to be free in style and subject matter. Being introduced to and looking at work by artists like Herni Rousseau, Martin Maloney, Paul Noble, Mamma Anderssen and many more, helped me understand that this style of painting is an acceptable genre.

'Money Tree' - idea came from Rebekah asking me for money and my reply being 'you would have thought money grows on trees'. Although technically better than the above, it is again too literal and runs the risk of being an illustration rather than a painting. I needed to decide whether I wanted to paint or illustrate.

It took me awhile to work out the difference, it is just supposed to be humorous and an exercise in improving my skills.  I understand that perhaps without the two boys pointing out the obvious and more time spent defining plus some luminosity, it would be a painting.


This brings me to the two paintings I have just finished. 'Hope' is the 'Storm' painting that was unsuccessful last time. I backed the canvas onto the same size MDF as the previous two images. I really love the colours and textures on this image but knew I had to give it a twist, something I could talk about when critiquing it at uni. This time it is definitely not literal because everyone who has seen it comes up with something different. Saying that, I haven't taken it to uni yet so we shall see what is said then.

What does it say to you?


This next painting is my most successful I believe. I started to use acrylic mediums to achieve different textures with the paint; iridescent for the lamp, super heavy gesso for the trees and sand gel for the path. Looking at it, it reminds me of life and the journeys we take. Going to see the Bridget Riley exhibition definitely had an effect on me.

 My favourite bit is the fire flies, they finish it off nicely.