arrangement in green

arrangement in green

20” x 20”, Oil on canvas, 1984.

I painted this in 1984 when I was 20 years old. I have held onto this ever since and to this day I am still very pleased with it. There’s something about it which I find very tranquil and balanced and just very easy to look at.

I was experimenting with new techniques (for me anyway) back then in oils. No paint brushes were used at all, the background is oil paint mixed with linseed oil rubbed with a rag into the canvas, the little white ‘window’ was applied with a pallet knife, as was the aqua ‘sky’ and little vase with flowers.

What intrigues me about this little painting is that I feel it was one of those epiphanies where things become clear and you realise that you’ve reached a point and learned a certain amount and now things are coming together in the creative process.

I look at this little painting everyday (it now hangs above our bed), and after all these years I can see a familiarity with colour and composition that I am inclined to use these days in my photography.

I guess what I am trying to get at is that I am very proud of that 20 year old boy who painted this simple little picture back in 1984. I think he was onto something.

I think I would also love to paint again, but it’s not as easy as that. Who knows..maybe one of these days…

the painting itself is not for sale