The more I paint images of the forest, the more I see forests and trees as a cypher, a kind of encoding, a representation of something else. This painting of trees finally declared itself to me after a few weeks of alternately applying, layering and removing pigment.
This is painting as extrusion or excavation, not dissimilar to 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 judgment and rigour can readily descend into pastiche and kitsch, the saccharine aesthetic of prettiness.
After a lifetime of painting, I have developed a set of strategies to rescue me from the aesthetic abyss, that moment when a painting is merely affectation and allure, a siren, calling me to the rocks. I endeavour to resist the easy seduction of colour and texture, the comfort of cliched compositions, and the security of illusionistic space.
The problem is, that I have to relearn this lesson with virtually all of my paintings, I guess this is the nature of painting, it is the incremental achievements that drive the artist forward, that keep you returning to the process of painting.
If you asked me to select one of the major obstacles to creating a successful painting, I would identify the concepts of control and dexterity. Now, this may seem perverse and definitely counterintuitive but bear with me for a while. Technique, skill, and control are considered key attributes in the context of painting, and to a certain extent, they are. However, if they become the sole arbiter of a painting's value and worth, the oxygen is removed from the painting, 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 have called this wabi-sabi, it derives from Buddhist philosophy and is about accepting the imperfections and transient nature of life. Finding ways to disrupt this overriding desire to control, contain and perfect will be the subject of my next blog post.
More Forest Landscape artworks can be viewed on my online art gallery. They are available for purchase, all you need to do is just get in touch! A few examples can be seen below!
I hope to see you around the Cambridgeshire art galleries and UK exhibitions. If you can't wait until then, you can view my artwork online! If you find an artwork you love and want to know more about or make a purchase just contact us directly. All artworks are for sale and commissions are welcomed. I look forward to hearing from you to guide you through the process of buying art online from the UK to anywhere in the world. Another option is to come to one of the Affordable Art Fairs in England, my work can be seen in person at the affordable art fairs, so come back to find details on free tickets to future fairs too.
Upcoming Exhibitions and Art Fairs
I will be exhibiting abstract landscape artwork inspired by the Fenlands in Britain at future Affordable Art Fairs, sign up for the newsletter to keep up to date. I will be exhibiting with Linton 59 and Darryl Nantais Art Gallery is representing my artwork. I do hope you can be there and see my artwork up close.
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I would love for you to subscribe to my Art newsletter where you will discover newly selected artworks, art insights, inspirations, and painting techniques, straight to your inbox, as well as invitations to upcoming art fairs, galleries and exhibitions so that you can visit my work in real life! If you like, you can scroll through more of my art gallery displaying a selected range of abstract landscape paintings.
Art Buyers and Collectors: How To Buy an original Peter Corr artwork
If you take a look at my art gallery and would like to purchase an original oil painting, you can email my Art Representative, Karl, at The Darryl Nantais Gallery Ltd at karl@linton59.co.uk or get in contact via the contact form on his website https://linton59.co.uk/contact. Please add the name/title of the artwork in your message. It may have already sold, but if that is the case, don't worry, you can request a commissioned piece and get a painting you will love.
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Thank you for reading my contemporary art blog. Please take the opportunity to look at my collection of paintings in the online gallery. All of my paintings are original artworks on high-quality canvas frames. If you are interested in purchasing a specific painting, please get in touch to check current availability or to discuss a commission. Please contact me.
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