#westcontemporary

[findac]

Apologies to those who’ve been waiting for news of my new print to drop online… @westcontemporaryart had a lot to figure out after the weekends ‘in person’ purchases, so put it off until today. 
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The good news is that the remaining Fleur-NA-01 prints will be available today between 6 and 10pm GMT at https://www.west-contemporary-editions.com/collections/fin-dac (see link in bio)
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As the previous two releases, the details are as follows: Mixed media print, with screen printed spot varnish and fine black glitter layer on 100 x 42cm Hahnemuhle photo rag 308gsm paper. 
Hand finished ‘glitched lips’ in acrylic. 
Hand finished, signed, stamped and numbered by the artist
COA upon registration
Edition of 100
Price £395 each
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#findac #urbanaesthetics #urbanart #printrelease #urbancontemporaryartist #urbancontemporaryart #urbancontemporary #gicleeprint #westcontemporaryart #westcontemporary #westcontempeditions #handfinished #handembellished #limitededition #limitededitionprint #fleur

[findac]

‘Haiconca’ formed one half of what I referred to as the monochromatic twinset. - Both pieces were studio versions of mural experiments where I reduced the colour palette and detail to the bare minimum. - That lack of colour and detail made it difficult for me to consider them ‘done’ when they were finished… as if the simplicity was an anathema to my usual sensibilities 🤷‍♂️ - The fact that they were bought as a twinset and will be hung together was really pleasing to me. - #findac #urbanaesthetics #afterglow #undertow #urbancontemporaryart #urbancontemporaryartist #urbancontemporary #soloshow #soloexhibition #artexhibition #urbanart #westcontemporaryart #westcontemporary https://www.instagram.com/p/CV9zPGzIv65/?utm_medium=tumblr

[findac]

The ‘Fleur’ series of works was derived from a shop front painted in Acton, West London for @jgcontemporary last summer.

- I created a whole load of canvas designs based around these ‘landscape style’ proportions.

- This first one was a new model/face (which became a thing for the series) but someone I’d been speaking to about including in my work for years.

[findac]

Because the focus of this series was simply about the face and the eyes, it enabled me to include a lot of women whose heritages/ethnicities I’d previously found hard to depict respectfully within the context of type of work I had been doing.

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Anna was another model I’d connected with a long time ago but had never found the right design in order to paint her.

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This piece found a new home in Pennsylvania, USA

[findac]

The first piece of the second neon twinset that I started back in Feb of this year. - As I mentioned previously, the framing on these pieces was almost as important as the colour schemes and the finished pieces themselves. - And as it turned out, lighting them in the gallery for the undertow part of the show became equally as important too. - This piece is heading off to the heat and humidity of Malaysia - #findac #urbanaesthetics #afterglow #undertow #urbancontemporaryart #urbancontemporaryartist #urbancontemporary #soloshow #soloexhibition #artexhibition #urbanart #westcontemporaryart #westcontemporary https://www.instagram.com/p/CWSoHnYIm9J/?utm_medium=tumblr

[findac]

Unukausay was the second of two monochromatic pieces at my solo show. - A studio version of a mural I’d painted in Melbourne, Australia in 2018, it was another exercise in reducing detail and colour to focus the attention on the eyes/gaze. - Both pieces are heading to their new home in New Jersey, US - #findac #urbanaesthetics #afterglow #undertow #urbancontemporaryart #urbancontemporaryartist #urbancontemporary #soloshow #soloexhibition #artexhibition #urbanart #westcontemporaryart #westcontemporary https://www.instagram.com/p/CWAbyz_o6tO/?utm_medium=tumblr

[findac]

This Rococo/Marie Antoinette concept/theme was something I’d been working on in bits and pieces for at least a couple of years before I started the production of Afterglow/Undertow. - It was a conversation with model Connie in Portland in late 2017, about her cat with ‘Bowie eyes’, that sparked the whole concept. - The design for this piece (Indochine) had been created as far back as 2018 but I was waiting for the right time to paint it. - Afterglow/Undertow seemed like the ‘right time’ 😊 - #findac #urbanaesthetics #afterglow #undertow #urbancontemporaryart #urbancontemporaryartist #urbancontemporary #soloshow #soloexhibition #artexhibition #urbanart #westcontemporaryart #westcontemporary https://www.instagram.com/p/CWC--NxoO7e/?utm_medium=tumblr

[findac]

Annnnnd so… we come to the first entirely new series for the solo show… the neons. - As soon as I posted the first glimpses of this piece (way back in December last year) it was obvious that this series was not what was expected of me. - An idea that I’d been toying with for a while and a model/muse that I’d been trying to integrate into my work but couldn’t find the right concept… the solo show was the perfect excuse to do both - I’d never painted in these tones before and (as is my usual way) I did no tests/experiments before trying. - I was happy enough with the result but knew I could (and should) push the idea further… which I did 😊 - #findac #urbanaesthetics #afterglow #undertow #urbancontemporaryart #urbancontemporaryartist #urbancontemporary #soloshow #soloexhibition #artexhibition #urbanart #westcontemporaryart #westcontemporary https://www.instagram.com/p/CWNXCH9oGwZ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[findac]

And so… to the final piece and maybe my last post about Afterglow/Undertow.

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And it’s an apt one because the ‘Killer Instinct’ full size bronze bust really was the show-stopper.

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It took pride of place in the centre of the gallery and, in spite of the artworks on the walls, was the ‘piece de resistance’ for the whole show in my opinion.

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People’s reaction to it will be forever engrained in my memory. Fingers crossed the many planned future bronze works will have the same impact.

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An edition of 10 (each with a different colour mask), this turquoise version is headed to New Jersey to the home of one of my most avid collectors.

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[findac]

‘Osolterrae’ was the third piece from the gallery rear wall ensemble. - A recreation of my ‘living wall’ mural in Portland from 2017 and one of two pieces that incorporate a floral arrangement from the ladies at @rtfactflowers - Ironically this piece will be heading to the PNW… but to neighbouring Seattle instead of Portland. - #findac #urbanaesthetics #afterglow #undertow #urbancontemporaryart #urbancontemporaryartist #urbancontemporary #soloshow #soloexhibition #artexhibition #urbanart #westcontemporaryart #westcontemporary https://www.instagram.com/p/CVzbiHaIh8o/?utm_medium=tumblr

[findac]

Early on I decided that this series should only include models/faces that I’d never painted before or had painted very rarely.

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It gave me the opportunity to include faces that I’d wanted in my work for a while but just previously couldn’t make fit.

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This piece was of a young Dutch model who had worked with @itspaulaalmeida and whose mum I’d spoken to about potentially painting.

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The original photo was taken by Dutch portrait photographer @annewfotografie

[findac]

Now that the Afterglow/Undertow solo show is done and dusted I guess it’s time to start revealing the pieces in full for those that weren’t able to attend. - I have little or no idea where to start so I’m going with the only piece that doesn’t feature an actual model of mine. - ‘Magdalena’ (Frida Kahlo’s middle name for those that wondered about the title) formed part of a 4 piece ensemble showcased on the rear wall of the gallery and was a recreation of the mural I painted in Guadalajara as part of @despertaresmex in 2019. - The piece is sold and will be heading to its new home in Santa Monica very soon. - #findac #urbanaesthetics #afterglow #undertow #urbancontemporaryart #urbancontemporaryartist #urbancontemporary #soloshow #soloexhibition #artexhibition #urbanart #westcontemporaryart #westcontemporary https://www.instagram.com/p/CVugX7hoM1l/?utm_medium=tumblr

[findac]

The second half of the first neon twinset for Undertow. - Because I knew I was going to be utilising almost the same colour scheme on both pieces, I made a decision to work on them at the same time. - I’d never done that before because, in all honesty, my studio isn’t big enough and can generally only accommodate one of my wooden pieces at a time. - But these pieces were slightly smaller so it was just about doable. - I didn’t know it then but, this would be the way I’d work for most of the remainder of my solo show production. - #findac #urbanaesthetics #afterglow #undertow #urbancontemporaryart #urbancontemporaryartist #urbancontemporary #soloshow #soloexhibition #artexhibition #urbanart #westcontemporaryart #westcontemporary https://www.instagram.com/p/CWQTLC5ouTs/?utm_medium=tumblr

[findac]

The last of the really big pieces ‘Hoechun’ was another ‘odd one out’ for Afterglow/Undertow. - It was the only full wood panel piece… the type of pieces I’d been painting predominately over the last 5 years. - My intention from the start was to not just repeat ‘the same old thing’ for this show but, to start pushing the work in different directions… for my own sanity and creativity if nothing else. - So, this piece became ‘the nail in the coffin’ for this particular style ’period’. That’s not to say I’ll never paint pieces like this again… I expect I will from time to time. - But the production of this show proved to me that there’s way too many other avenues and styles I want to explore to allow myself to get stuck on any one thing ever again. - #findac #urbanaesthetics #afterglow #undertow #urbancontemporaryart #urbancontemporaryartist #urbancontemporary #soloshow #soloexhibition #artexhibition #urbanart #westcontemporaryart #westcontemporary https://www.instagram.com/p/CWLshaJI3lp/?utm_medium=tumblr

[findac]

‘Tuileries’ formed the second half of the Rococo/Marie Antoinette twinset… my own personal favourites from the show. - As the style of these pieces was meant to be an indirect link back to certain types of historical portraiture, I thought it would be fun to include a visual reference to a particular favourite of mine: ‘Woman with Ermine’ by Leonardo Da Vinci. - Both Rococo pieces were purchased by the same buyer and are heading to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. - #findac #urbanaesthetics #afterglow #undertow #urbancontemporaryart #urbancontemporaryartist #urbancontemporary #soloshow #soloexhibition #artexhibition #urbanart #westcontemporaryart #westcontemporary https://www.instagram.com/p/CWFbvd1IIfo/?utm_medium=tumblr

[findac]

Initially there was going to be a lot more of these types of ‘split image’ designs in the show. But I abandoned that idea pretty quickly when all the other new ideas started flowing. - ‘Ascenido’ was a take on a design previously painted on a wall in Wynwood, Miami and was one of two designs that were to include this ‘kintsugi’ style (the second one was never painted). - Kintsugi is used in Japanese pottery and is a metaphor for embracing flaws and imperfections and highlighting them as part of the healing process… Such a beautiful idea/concept. - The piece is one of only two originals that found a new home in the UK 🤷‍♂️ - #findac #urbanaesthetics #afterglow #undertow #urbancontemporaryart #urbancontemporaryartist #urbancontemporary #soloshow #soloexhibition #artexhibition #urbanart #westcontemporaryart #westcontemporary https://www.instagram.com/p/CV4iVXso8AD/?utm_medium=tumblr