Throughout May 2022, I will be hosting my first Artists Open House Brighton and Hove. I’ll be showing contemporary abstracted oil paintings with an ocean theme. This includes new paintings inspired by Brighton and Hove beachfront. Living in Brighton and Hove, the sea plays a huge part of living here and is a never ending source of inspiration and pleasure. Travel has also played its part in influencing my creativity- and it’s always the oceans that influence me the most.
Contemporary abstract oil painting
Contemporary painting is what particularly appeals to me; loving simple strong design that fits in with the modern home. As well as simple modern design am drawn to translucency and depth of colour, particularly when colours are painted on top of each other in thin layers.
Why oil paint?
Why oil paint? Usually when we think of oil painting we think of a more traditional approach to its use, and it unfairly has the reputation of being difficult to work with. Most contemporary abstract art is made with acrylics as they are versatile and quick drying. However, I feel they do not have the luminosity and beauty of oil paint nor the richness of the colours. Oil paint takes a little longer to dry but there are ways to speed this up a little. It’s quite soothing to take a bit longer with a painting too, to let it evolve slowly and see what unfolds over time. I want to explore the wonderful textures and effects can be created with oils, creating serene and mysterious effects. Traditionally oil painting has a bit of an old fashioned reputation, conjuring up thoughts of the Old Masters and traditional landscapes and portraits. However, they are increasingly being used for contemporary paintings, abstracted work, portraits, landscapes.
Acrylics are a great medium when starting out as I did a couple of years ago. Ideas can be tried out and painted over within a few minutes, but they also dry to a much darker colour than when first painted which makes colours more difficult to work with. They are also non-environmentally friendly unless disposed of very carefully as is basically a plastic. Oil paint does not have to be harmful if using the newer odourless mineral spirits or even no spirit at all. In fact oil paint has been around for centuries, no mediums used then, just an oil such as walnut or linseed.
Turning an idea into an abstracted painting
Sounds easy, yes? Not as easy as it looks in my experience, and this can be a long process, taking photographs, making sketches and colour swatches.
Firstly, what is being abstracted? A feeling or emotion? A place? An idea? For myself the interest lies in the mystery and serenity of the sea. Trying to convey that into an abstracted painting is taking a lot of my time, but continually intrigues.
Head over to my gallery page to see my latest paintings inspired by Brighton and Hove’s beachfront.