Painting in the Backyard  (April 2001) post modernist paintings / Art

Life has its ups and downs.  The studio that Marco Martins sponsored me with (for a year) was a dream... it had two large windows, a great view of the sky over Stratford Station.  But the luxury of such a studio made me feel indulged.

In the back of my mind I wanted to painting outside in the middle of large fields.  The windows in a weird way seemed like a cage.  I had all my tubes of paint piled up like a mountain of bird food.  But I could not hear the birds in the trees sing.  

Painting in the backyard. oil on canvas. 44 x 50 inches. April 2001. Price: £1400

I was very fortunate to sell a healthy number of canvases in the Fall of 2000. And found myself with enough money to put a down payment on a property. But being an artist I knew that the bank would not recognize my situation... so I knew that I would have to temporarily work full time in order to be approved for a mortgage.  

A weird twist of fate presented itself. My studio lease was ending... and in six months we were told that the building would be demolished for redevelopment.

Painting in the backyard. oil on canvas. 40 x 44 inches. April 2001. Price: £1200

With the support and understanding of my wife I decided to give up my studio. And start working full time (45 hours per week) and actively start looking of a property to buy.

I purchased an easel so that I could paint in the backyard.  As well as set up a flood light for those nights that I could not sleep. 

Painting under the canvas sky is incredible.  With the exception to those rainy days. I love the wind, the silver rays of light, the vibrant clouds, and the birds that sing and kept me company.

Working outside has really made me be more decisive with my color selection and rely more on my instincts with regards to my brush work.

Painting in the backyard. oil on canvas. 44 x 50 inches. April 2001. Price £1400

When I worked in my studio the canvas would be mounted on a wall. But when I work outside the sunlight filters from behind the canvas. This inner sense of light has effected the way I have approached the canvas as well as the paint. It has made me more sensitive to the transparent and opaque elements inherent in the pigments and window effect in the canvas.  This is especially evident the selected work on this web page.  

thank you.