An investigation into the optical and perspective effects of the natural and man-made environment. In particular the effect on the terrestrial landscape of human and natural interventions, as viewed from above, from aircraft or on satnavs, drone images and satellite images.
Terrestrial Series #3 "We are nearly there" Acrylic on canvas 40cm X 40cm.
€450
A previous interest was the optical effects of rendered textures, tones and colours, I documented samples of observed industrial and utilitarian intervention in the city and suburban landscape; in particular the intervention on roads and pavements of utilitarian mark-making; industrial graffiti.
I chose a square format canvas on which to explore the proportioned areas and layers of perceived depth underlying such graphic interventions. My process was to pursue this through the patient build-up of layered glazes in oil paint and latterly acrylics, using varied brush strokes, stippling, daubing and fine splattering on unmasked areas, then re-masking and un-masking, continuing the process until a point of completion is perceived.
Each work is augmented on the reverse with title and notation of the observed original location and with a set of Cartesian coordinates (latitude, longitude and elevation) by which the viewer can ( should they wish to do so ) locate the observed original location further investigation. For example: Sydney Parade, Dublin, Ireland; 53 degrees, 19 minutes 19.72 seconds North by 6 degrees, 12 minutes 37.63 seconds West, Elevation 6 meters. Or 3 Anchor Bay, Cape-town, RSA 33 degrees, 54 minutes, 24.63 seconds South by 18 degrees, 23 minutes, 43.39 seconds East, Elevation 3 meters
However as such utilitarian industrial graffiti markings herald future intervention by Utility Services; the markings may be gone and the surface of the intervention changed utterly.
Work bought by private collectors 2014-2022
A series of studies on Mountains, Cloud and Mist in Oil on Gesso prepared boards exploring the emergence of mountains through cloud and mist or the attachment of clouds and mist to mountains. All gone to new homes in different parts of Ireland
