The first painting has started for the Gosport War Memorial Hospital dementia ward - based on the composition developed from observing the orchard in the charcoal study (see earlier blog post). First I cover the canvas with colour - to take the edge off of the plain whiteness of the 'empty space'. I then cover the canvas with blue- as this is a cold colour and adds a grounding to the main theme of this particular composition, which is winter (Fig 1).
Figure 1
Then I start my under-painting - creating the sense of distance by adding colour onto the horizon line and making brush strokes to imply perspective (Fig 2). The use of the perspective in this case is to look at different areas of perception from two sides (hemispheres) of the brain - so the perspectives and colour tones will eventually be purposely skewed but should promote different areas of cognition and hopefully recognition (Fig 3).
Figures 2 and 3
I then add the main objects of the composition - the trees from the orchard - in order to build the narrative structure of the image. This is all done very loosely with little detail and thin washes of colour to imply form and shape. See how I have manipulated the perspective to create two different planes of view coming from the same horizon. This will link the skewed perspective with the objects that will be placed in the foreground of the work (Fig 4).
Figure 4
I then add the main objects to the foreground (Figs 5 and 6).
Figures 5 and 6.
The branch if the tree on the right hand side of he picture is reference to Elizabeth Frinks' 1963 bronze sculpture , The Dying King' (Fig 7). Further reference to this will be explained in a later blog.
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| (Photo: © Tate, London 2013) |
Figure 7.
Further development of the work will follow in a following blog as painting progresses...
