@dominika_mak has already written a really good caption for her final recital post, so go read that.
Also go to her recital.
Also, come to mine! Spookily they make a lot of sense together. Funny, that.
Seriously though, the RAM have given us the opportunity (read: forced for the purposes of rigorous examination) to put on a recital in a great space, and we want to show you a vision of absolute hell/some kind of heaven (?). It would be wonderful to have people in there who would enjoy it.
So there’s the elevator pitch. You going up?
#classicalsinger #recital #williamblake #georgeherbert #mysticism
‘Impression of a gothic architectural draft’
We live in the shadow of the alien world that is so close to us every day, but that is separated from us by centuries. I want to explore this idea of a present past more- things that contain in them the revival of their own death. You can probably see where that portrait came from too.
Inspired by old architectural drafts, and illusions of order and concord. Made with charcoal, ink and acrylics.
#gothic #abstract #architecture #classical #painting #art #charcoal
‘Portrait II’
I seem to be in a punitive mood at the moment, or at least detached with cool self-criticism. The palette for this came from something I’d done moments before which I’ll also post, but on that piece it represented a lack of clarity and order. I don’t know why a face seemed then to pop up… any guesses more than welcome!
Hello boys. I’m back.
#painter #artist #abstractart #abstractexpressionism #portrait
Back again after a while, with ‘Blameless Sea Bream’
Ink, acrylic, charcoal, draft collage and Seamus Heaney fragments
This painting is based on a joke. I liked using collage and will probably use more, but not so much of my face.
#painting #collage #surrealism #artist #abstract #surrealistart
‘Pierrot, after McBride and Wiltzie II’
I had this idea in a slow, searing flash this morning on the bus and the only way I could keep hold of it is by writing down a poetic prompt. I’ll give you that instead of my usual sarky, pretentious description.
Deep blue sea of night sky.
The hopeful melancholy of a clown
All in white, with crystal tears
And smudged, red makeup,
Puffed up by a ruff.
Black clouds skate the slow wind,
Low-flickering lamplight peoples the vault
Of sleeping heaven.
Good Pierrot, your hopefulness
Beams slowly into the night.
#sendintheclowns #pierrotlunaire #impressionism #art #abstractart #painting #ambient #starsofthelid
‘A Vision/The Glamoured’
This paintjng is one of my favourites. My acrylic dilution method was perfected, and the colours I mixed together in such a satisfying way. It also turns out I don’t mind blowing my own proverbial trumpet every now and again…
Seamus Heaney’s translation of Aoghán Ó Rathaille’s Gile na Gille (Brightening Brightness) inspired this in part, and was the source for the words. If you do anything after seeing this, read the poem or listen to Heaney recite it. It’s be interesting if you can guess which particular phrase inspired the palette. There’ll be a quiz next week 👹
#abstractart #naiveart #seamusheaney #painting #artist #poetry #abstract #impressionism
Happy Burns Night 🏴🏴🏴
@theonisbett and my take on the beautiful Celtic tune, ‘Fàilte na Miosg’ - to which my Glaswegian grandpa’s hero Rabbie Burns set his poem, ‘My Heart’s in the Highlands’ - is now out on Spotify and other platforms. Do check it out in your best chair ideally w a dram or two of something smoky/peaty/malty.
And lmk if you’d like a score (@helencbirch did an absolutely gorgeous job editing my transcription). Cheers x
I recently had my head shot in the woods by the unparalleled @frey4campbell 🦉
She was an absolute dream to work with- we had such a relaxed shoot that I completely forgot that I was being photographed in the act of nerding out about trees, being overexcited by dogs, and building log sculptures. Freya also managed to fulfil my near-impossible brief of being captured as enigmatic baritone, avant-garde wastrel, and adorkable lumberman all at once (please someone cast me in this role)!!
I’d highly recommend Freya to anyone looking for an explosively creative and collaborative headshot session! Get in touch with her right now, ya filthy animals.
#classicalsinger #operasinger #lieder #artsong #baritone #woods #ruins #graffiti
‘Nocturne’
Acrylics only.
I painted this for my parents, for Christmas. They now live in Suffolk, where the bark of the spruces melds with the ponderous deep green of their needles, and catch the soft flame of the sun as it dies and is resurrected day after day.
#home #painting #art #abstractart #impressionism #impressionistart #sunset
‘Rose and Hoffman on Capote’
Ink and acrylics.
A silly and spasmodic impression of a conversation between two eloquent and straight-set people. This is basically a water-damaged documentation of my eavesdropping.
#abstractart #painting #illustration #art #poetry #surrealism #surrealistart
