Out from the Cave. 40x 40 inches. Acrylic, ink and oil on canvas.

Out of the Cave, originally uploaded by P Brown.

Completed yesterday. Happy.

Marketing leaflet for exhibition space

Marketing leaflet for exhibition space, originally uploaded by P Brown.

Had a call from the exhibition host asking for more marketing material to be available at the show, so I have quickly put together an A4 info sheet .
I find this a really good exercise to do as you get the chance to re-review all the services you can offer to interested people.

Had no room for the info about the sports and remedial massage clinic I run though!

The unavoidable element of ourselves....

I was looking through some of my more "illustrative" work the other day and came across two images that I made in 2010. The themes and colour palettes of both struck me as elements that are both naturally occurring at the moment in my more more expressive, larger painted canvasses. This is interesting to me as the process involved in making images such as The Wizard and Tiki Grooves can be a lot more planned and "tight". The pace and approach involved in the expressionist paintings I am currently working on is usually quicker and - I think - braver. Yet, the same strong, rich colours are coming out in the new paintings, as well as shapes and forms that are almost the raw material of the more formal/figurative/literal characters and props that appear in the illustrative work.
It is encouraging to me to see this happening. Once, when discussing the idea of changing my illustrative style (I was unhappy with the work that I was producing commercially at that time), someone said to me that he thought it was nigh on impossible to do such a thing: that to simply force a change to one's work and approach could not be done with any degree of authenticity or substance. Changes to approach would rather come slowly and in small measures through periods of personal experimentation and investigation.
Now I think I see what that person meant. A creative can make even dramatic changes in direction, media, intent, but in it all, there will always be something of the essential THEM in whatever they produce. If you look, you will always see colours, or shapes, or themes or attitude that speak of the person behind the art, whether that be painting, music or writing. I find that really encouraging, because it shows us how we have all been created as wonderful individuals. The best thing, therefore, that any artist can be, is themselves and that must start with being honest with oneself, which is sometimes the hardest thing to do!

Opening night at venue Cymru

, originally uploaded by P Brown.

Me and Crocodile, which sold before the exhibit began!

Me and Crocodile, which sold before the exhibit began!, originally uploaded by P Brown.

Last night's opener in Venue Cymru went well. It was so nice to see friends and share work with them. The general reception of the new paintings was very positive and I was really heartened that people picked up on the joy and the positive feelings coming from the colours and the gestures in the pieces.
Aside from Crocodile, 2 other pieces sold to a buyer from the local area, one of which is a favourite of mine, so it's tie to say goodbye to Wild Bloom, Breeze.

Following the show, a few of us made our way to a local bar and had food and much chatter about art and drawing, which has encouraged me further to get out some paper and charcoal again....watch this space!

untitled. Acrylic and ink on canvas leaf. 200 x 190mm

untitled, originally uploaded by P Brown.

Just added this to a group of paintings for sale at my ebay.
I love the playfulness and almost goofiness of this piece and feel that there was some inspiration here from Miro......also, it was completed during a period last year of work inspired by a trip to Southern California.

The canvas paper provided a lovely texture for making the scratchy ink marks that contrast so effectively with the paint strokes.

Dawn through the Veil. Watercolour, ink and acrylic on paper. 13.5" x 9"

dawn through the veil, originally uploaded by P Brown.

I have been placing some paintings for sale on ebay and this one certainly made the grade (kind of want to hold on to it but losing out on storage space1)
Part of the "Jungles" series and completed last summer. I am thrilled at the way the colours overlay each other and glow so beautifully....hence the title that I decided on.

Cataract. Acrylic, ink on watercolour paper. 490 x 360mm

cataract, originally uploaded by P Brown.

Just put this painting up for sale on ebay....It was completed in the summer last year at the end of a productive period....
My intention in the painting of this piece was to explore layers and really slow down and let the piece lead me in the making. The results were a lovely surprise and brought to mind themes of creation, destruction and forces in the natural world.

We hung the exhibition!

, originally uploaded by P Brown.

Susie and I went over to Llandudno yesterday and laid siege to the exhibition space! It took us just over 2 hours with an battery powered screwdriver and alot of elbow grease.
It is so nice to see the work on walls and waiting to be enjoyed by the public. I am enjoying the buzz.

Tonight is the opening night and I am hoping we get an okay turnout and that people are interested and ask me loads of awkward questions about the creation of these pieces!

Night. Acrylic, ink. 40 x 40 inch canvas.

Night., originally uploaded by P Brown.

The day before we went to hang the exhibition and this was my last big effort. It sounds too good to be true but it has turned out to be my favourite piece of the last 2 weeks' of work and sums up for me my feelings and gut intention for the new "Jungles" series that I have begun. I love it because it turned out so playful and so full of movement and contrasts. To me, it really is a night in the jungle.