Imperfection, Patina and the Painted Surface

The more I paint images of the forest, the more I see trees as a cipher — a kind of encoding, a representation of something else. This painting finally declared itself to me after a few weeks of alternately applying, layering, and removing pigment.

'Natural Theatre' 120 x 100 x 4 cm Oil & Cold Wax on Canvas

Painting as Excavation

This is painting as extrusion or excavation — not unlike a sculptor releasing a figure embedded in a marble block, or an archaeologist revealing an artefact by scraping and gouging. Somewhere on the spectrum between building and taking apart lies the hidden image, trapped in a time capsule, submerged like coral or lichen, obscured.

There is a constant search for patina — qualities of surface that, without judgement and rigour, can readily descend into pastiche and kitsch, the saccharine aesthetic of mere prettiness.

Close-up of Artwork

Resisting the Seduction of Control

After a lifetime of painting, I have developed a set of strategies to rescue myself from the aesthetic abyss — that moment when a painting is merely affectation and allure. I endeavour to resist the easy seduction of colour and texture, the comfort of clichéd compositions, and the security of illusionistic space.

The problem is that I have to relearn this lesson with virtually every painting. I suspect this is the nature of the practice: it is the incremental achievements that drive the artist forward and keep you returning to the process.

Control, Dexterity and the Role of Chance

If asked to identify one of the major obstacles to creating a successful painting, I would point to the concepts of control and dexterity. This may seem perverse and counterintuitive, but consider: technique, skill, and control are considered key attributes in painting, and to a certain extent, they are. However, if they become the sole arbiter of a painting's value, the oxygen is removed from the work, rendering it airless and suffocating.

The final result is often a kind of claustrophobic predictability. The more skilful you become, the more you remove the all-important element of chance. The Japanese concept of wabi-sabi — derived from Buddhist philosophy — is concerned with accepting the imperfections and transient nature of life. Finding ways to disrupt the overriding desire to control, contain, and perfect is a recurring preoccupation in my practice. Imperfection, Patina and the Painted Surface

Close-up of Artwork

Forest Paintings by Peter Corr at the Affordable Art Fair Hampstead 2022