James Forbes

University College Northampton: BA Fine Art

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"The Red Series" oil on canvass (four painting each measuring 200cm x 150cm)

ARTIST STATEMENT

'THE RED SERIES'

To pose a question is to provoke and challenge thought.

The influences on my work are a strange mix but this leads to a series of paintings that stand between many points, creating questions for the audience. A series that has no literal dialogue between the paintings, but at the same time plays numerous games with space, composition and colour speak in a language which flows across the work. Although each painting can stand alone, in the series each one talks and bounces off the rest to produce a greater visual experience.

I draw heavily from the theatrical Arts, with stage and screen having the greatest influences (particularly on the composition structure of the work). A sense of the dramatic can be seen throughout, with elements of popular culture and fashion enhancing the contemporary feel.
The idea of challenging the classification of the work was heavily influenced by Gary Hume's figurative paintings. His individual style sits between the idea of abstraction and the figure itself. Other influences come from Jenny Saville's use of paint to create form, Richard Patterson because of the photographic influence in his work and Matisse's compositional structure and flowing use of the figure between paintings in 'Dance'.

Each Painting tackles the concept of space within its composition and form. As the eye glides over the surface of the work there is a flowing transition from the subtle blend of tones to harsh divides of colour. The idea of where the figure sits in space and depth of space between the figure and blocks of colour is constantly being challenged. These spatial games in which the tonal aspects of the figure fight against the voids of colour, allows the painting to stand at the point between abstraction and representational painting.
Exploring how paint deals with the camera's view of the world, particularly in over exposed areas, creates an interesting catalyst for my work. Using the photograph as a sketch, compositional problems are solved. Rather than producing paintings that are a slave to the photograph, I retain creative authorship.

James Forbes

University College Northampton: BA Fine Art

"The Red Series" oil on canvass (four painting each measuring 200cm x 150cm)