Drawing Book Page (Circa 2007)

Something pivotal happened on these pages that shaped the visual language I have been developing ever since. The gesture in the figure is a little melodramatic, but the photographic reference I took was completely spontaneous and without the knowledge of the person. This did result in about half a dozen watercolour images with a similar aesthetic. Some more successful than others.

I've found these A4 spiral bound books with cheap cartridge paper to be my go to place for scribbling down ideas and general sketching. They are the perfect size, they lie flat when opened, are reasonably forgiving with any media, inks, pencil, watercolour and charcoal (stay away from anything oil based) are all fine. I haven't really deviated from this book style for about 19 or 20 years. I have been given moleskin sketchbooks over the years and I make a vow to only use fancy ones from then on, just to give my art practice its due street cred....to no avail. These spiral bound books are THE BEST. 

Watercolour and pencil sketch

Valparaiso - Chile (January 2017)

Valparaiso is one of those cities that is so jam packed full of adorable photo opportunities, you'd get a blister on your index finger trying to capture them all......I always enjoy these images for what they are, but never really feel compelled to work with them creatively. They're just so damn sweet as they are!

Drawing Book Page (2016)

I have this habit of gazing through previous pages in my drawing books looking for a way to move forward with my work and ideas. Sometimes I wonder if these exist exclusively as works in their own right and my entire art practice is just processing ideas - never to be realised in any way beyond a sketch on paper.

I quite like this page. 

Havana - Cuba (January 2017)

I took this photo because it reminded me of artist Juan Munoz and some of his drawing and installation work. Balconies seemingly floating without entries or exits, precariously defying gravity - Munoz didn't make any work with candy coloured awnings though. Maybe he never went to Cuba?

Balcony with candy awning. 2017

Juan Munoz - Balcony under the ceiling, Iron (1986)