This is the second post regarding my thoughts on the paintings that I will be submitting for Assessment. In this category the choices are less obvious.

The candidates

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There seem to be a number of combinations that would work well together. The challenge now is to get this down to 4 or 5 paintings.

It is close to decision time when I will need to make the choice of the 8 – 10 paintings that I will submit for Assessment. My Parallel project has been split into two lines of investigation which I have now entitled ‘Decay in the landscape’ and ‘Close up to deterioration’.

This post identifies the paintings that are up for consideration in the category ‘ Decay in the landscape’

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My thoughts are that paintings 3, 4, 5 & 7 make the grade.

I have included this painting for completeness. It was completed during the time that I was working on Part 6. It is only loosely connected to my Parallel project in that it is a Fenland scene but lacks the element of decay and deterioration that underlines the connection between the paintings. As such I will not be considering it to be included in my Assessment portfolio.

As a painting in its own right it depicts the dull colours and bleakness of the Fenland landscape at this time of year, December. The light is often diffused by the low clouds and lingering mist.

This painting is the result of a photograph that I took whilst on a late afternoon walk in November. It was a clear sky and the sun was fast disappearing. The bungalow was silhouetted against the sky with the one window brightly lit from inside. The painting doesn’t fit into the subject matter for my Parallel project and as such it will not be considered for submission. I have documented here only for the purposes of completion.

A further painting in my dilapidated building series and certainly one which will be in consideration for assessment submission. In this example there is a dual focus. The first is on the rusting corrugated iron which is the fabric of the building. The second on the detritus littering the ground outside the building. Where ever you look in this painting there is nothing to suggest that it is looked after or cared for. This gave rise to the simple title Rubbish.

This painting is somewhere between my two Parallel project painting focuses as it it is neither a dilapidated building in a landscape or a close of machinery presented in a semi abstract manner. As such I am undecided as to whether it should be considered as part of my submission for Assessment.

The topic for this painting is somewhere in between. The subject is self explanatory, it is the bolted door on a building. In this particular case it is a farm building but it could just as easily be a commercial building or a garden shed. What attracted me to this image was the question of whether it is locked to keep us out or something in. This question is not answered, just proposed. It is the dark interior hiding behind the fixed bolt which suggests intrigue. I painted this in a pictorial manner to prevent the scene becoming too ambiguous.

The painting:

A further painting in my series of works towards my Parallel project. This is a composition that I had considered painting for some time but had not done so as I felt unsure whether there was enough in it to make it successful. I intended the focus to be primarily on the bridge and it’s state of decay and unsuitability for purpose. I also liked the idea that it appeared to lead to nowhere. In the photograph that I used for reference these facets seemed evident.

The painting that I completed is less than successful. To me it fails on a number of levels. The colour palette whilst being coherent lacks the subtlety of the photograph. The tonal variations in the photograph are slight whereas my painting is less so. However the main issue is the perspective of the bridge itself which although seeming to work within the painting is wrong. Despite the painting not being of a standard suitable to be considered to be part of my portfolio for Assessment submission I do feel that I learnt some lessons in what not to do whilst painting it.

The painting is shown below.

It seemed a waste of effort not to try and improve this painting so I set about rectifying the area that I felt were disappointing. This included repainting the perspective lines on the bridge and toning down the lines whilst improving some of the highlights. Additionally I made further definition to the grass and reeds and the banks and lastly improved the definition and aerial perspective of the background. Having completed this I am less disappointed with the painting and feel that it stands up to some of my other work.

Another painting in my series of works towards my Parallel project. This one is part of the landscape series. I have used the device of light visible at the back of the building. I enjoy the way that this gives the interior of the building depth and draws the eye into the painting. The title hints at a possible past.

I expect that this painting will be a part of my Assessment portfolio.

This is the next instalment in the ambiguous equipment paintings. I have yet to settle on a title for this painting. Possible options are ‘Details of the plough’, ‘Wrought iron’, ‘The rusty iron plough’ or ‘Detailed study of Farm equipment, North Yorkshire Summer 2020’.

The contrast between the fading bluish iron and the rust is what drew me to the subject which I have replicated and enhanced in this painting.

Having discussed this painting, as part of the review process for potential Assessment submissions for my Parallel project, it was felt that the bright green background was too overpowering. Having considered this I have toned it down by overpainting with a fairly thick greyish wash. This has resulted in a more cohesive painting where the focus is now on the colours on the metalwork.

This statement will be used in conjunction with my Assessment submission. I feel that it represents the work that I intend to submit and what my practice is currently focusing on.

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My fascination lies in documenting the effects of the passing of time on the Fenland landscape in my locale. I try to show the landscape as it is today and the impact that the elements have had on man-made objects, documenting their slow imperceptible deterioration. Highlighting the cycle of development and decay of man-made structures in the landscape against the passing of time and the seasons.  

I approach the subject in two distinct ways. The first, is to try to convey what I see when I walk within it; to record the features, the buildings, structures and the space they occupy in this often austere environment. As I do this I imagine the stories that may have been played out during the lifetime of the buildings.

The second approach is to examine objects close up; to focus on detail and features that may be overlooked by the casual observer. This approach tends to produce paintings that are ambiguous in nature and hard to identify.

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