Smaller work in progress

I am delighted to be working on two smaller paintings, similar in style and use of colour. The trick in creating smaller work, is to apply the visual distinctions which have the same playful, dynamic energy, whilst retaining the sense of space and composition, seen in my larger paintings. These are like busy yet stable environments, shaping, evolving, in motion. 

Work in progress 

Acrylic on canvas 75 x 75 cm

Painting vs keywords

Putting search engines and Google analytics aside for a moment, approaching things in a slightly more poetic way - Sometimes it's a matter of getting straight to the point, especially when the artist's time to work, think, and blog is scarce, hurried by the accumulation of life events swaying you this way and that in a sea storm of unknowns, self navigation is key, and when time is short, quick reminders, like notes in a bottle sent out in to the ocean, is the most appropriate practice of communication. So what would I say about myself, about my work, what keywords would I use to cast in to the sea?

Contemporary, Visual, Abstract, Original, Colourful, Dynamic, Intriguing, Thought provoking, Smooth, Crisp, Bold, Powerful, Energetic, Intense, Playful, Uplifting, Evocative, Detailed, Fine Art, Paintings

When you're thinking about keywords, imagine them as visual patterns, each one unique like grains of sand, yet collectively quite similar. There are many pieces of a jigsaw puzzle scattered randomly around, put them together and the picture appears! This process is apparent in the nature of my paintings, the result being something almost identifiable and whole, yet fluid, changing, caught up in a cyclone of possibilities, interconnecting and reassembling itself in different arrangements, in a state of balance and chaos.

Outside the studio with finished painting - 2015

Journey Of An Image

Coming up with new work, in my case a visual concept for a new painting is always an interesting challenge. This can take time, weeks, sometimes a month or so. I find the creative process happens in stages. The first stage is designing a image that I can take to the canvas when I feel it's ready. Taking in to consideration things like, how I feel the image resonates with recent, finished paintings. A fitting balance and composition are very important, and of course a new image must radiate the same energetic qualities to similar works, in terms of playfulness, dynamic form, layering, illusion of three dimensions, etc.

I often develop new work from previous work. In every painting, there are numerous fascinating elements and juxtaposing shapes that can be re-used and transformed into fresh, new work. I think it's important to create a sense of unification with other work, so recycling, if you will, interesting aspects in other paintings, for me, helps to achieve this. Initially, all these images start off as spontaneous drawings in felt tip pens, which are later developed in photoshop.

Below is a little insight into how I go about this.

Stage 1

Here is an interesting section from a spontaneous drawing in felt tips I chose to work from.

Stage 2

At first glance you may think this another image entirely, but this has been developed from my initial drawing. You may find some similarities.

Stage 3

Again, big transformation! This is where photoshop is really useful. All the imagery from before is still here, but hidden beneath many different layers of experimentation.

Stage 4

Many different layers are added and developed in order to create 1 identifiable image. This can take a long time.

Stage 5


Often I find a certain theme on an image coming together that looks like something promising, only to change dramatically with development.

Stage 6

I continued working on this star orientated design for some time.

Stage 7

An interesting dynamic pattern began to take shape here.

Stage 8

Trying out a different approach.

Stage 9

Here I experimented with a new combination of visual elements. I call this, 'The crazy upside down teapot stage.'

Stage 10

Removing and replacing different shapes and forms plays a big part in developing a new image.

Stage 11

Sometimes subtle changes can make all the difference.

Stage 12

At this point I had built up a total of 34 different individual layers, some at the front, others more centred in the middle, and many at the back. It's all a matter of carefully and thoughtfully constructing one image that really works.

Stage 13

A very pleasing arrangement took form again here. I felt satisfied with the arrangement of colours, composition, dynamic aspect and balance.

Stage 14

Finally it's a matter of tidying up, making small amendments, adding finishing touches and other more subtle but important details. The next stage is painting the finished design up large scale on canvas, involving many other interesting changes and challenges, but that's another blog! 

The Story Is In The Title

Choosing a good title for a finished work of art is an art in itself. What makes a good title appropriate? What works? In my paintings, I deliberately choose titles that don't necessarily make sense or explain the obvious, but instead say something a little more cryptic, hinting at a narrative perhaps on the edge of your conscious grasp. Why such elaborate titles? What do they mean? These are the questions I'm sure you may ponder. My titles are like micro-poems, complex and dynamic in their arrangement, like the colourful abstract shapes and forms in my paintings. Nothing is defined in the playful, seemingly chaotic yet semi-figurative, more organised nature of the paintings, and the titles reflect that - not giving meaning, they are expressing. The American Modernist painter Stuart Davis, is also known for his use of poetic, stream of consciousness, jazz influenced titles such as 'Hot Still-Scape For Six Colors - 7th Avenue Style'. Words can be as interesting and evocative as visual works. I find by combining these two qualities, this creates an emotive interplay of sounds, feelings, ideas and abstract thought patterns. 'Smashing Through The Hush-Up In Cascading Wings Of Ecstasy' (below) is one of my latest paintings with such a title. 

Smashing Through The Hush-Up In Cascading Wings Of Ecstasy (Acrylic on canvas - 150 x 150 cm)

Introduction

A very warm welcome everybody, to my very first artists blog! I will begin by pointing you directly to my artists website, as it's had a brand new make over, with which I am very pleased. www.markelliottsmith.co.uk Best viewed on a pc. I hope you enjoy my work.
I am interested in painting that is contemporary and forward looking. In brief, I am passionate that in my paintings, people will find a sense of optimism in the dynamic forms and shapes, recall an impression of innocence in the playful, bold use of colour, become immersed in their smooth, stylistic, more sophisticated and graphical quality and engage in their almost tangible resonance that I hope will motivate and excite the human spirit. I am especially interested in bringing my paintings to contemporary workplace environments. This could be somewhere like a spacious modern design studio, hotel foyer, or office building. I feel they would compliment many of these spaces ideally and inspire those who work there. I have sold work to corporate clients through the Adam Gallery, who are based in Bath, UK, which incidentally is where my current studio is.
I have dedicated much of my time to developing my artistic career over the last 10 years since graduating from university, many of those years spent finding and developing a visual style that most resonates with 'who I am'. I hope you enjoyed this introduction. Please take a moment to look at my website. You can also find me on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/markelliottsmith/?ref=hl and Twitter @artymarksparks.

The Erratic Charismatics Of Euphoric Apparitions (Acrylic on canvas / 160 x 160 cm)