Exhibition 2003 - New Paintings

New Paintings

'This collection of new paintings is the culmination of my travels and experiences during the past year, expressed in a new body of work. Most of the paintings come from places very familiar to me, to which i return on a regular basis. In my work i always prefer to concentrate on a specific set of locations: making notes and studies in every season and at all times of the day until i feel that i 'know' somewhere well enough to paint it. My aim with my work is to convey the spirit of a place. The techniques i use for producing these paintings may not be considered truly traditional - the paint is thrown and splashed, scraped and scratched, built up in layers of colour and texture which may at first seem loose and random but do in fact have a control and precision after many years of experience.

I was lucky this year to make my first visit to Venice - somewhere i have been waiting to see, and hopefully will return to many times. I thought it stunning and beyound my expectations (which seems to be the usual reaction!), and from a painter's point of view a wonderful combination of light, architecture and water. I spent all of my time there making colour notes and drawings, which have been brought back to my studio to work up into a collection of paintings.

Venice was a different challenge for me artistically - usually i find myself drawn to quiet places off the beaton track rather than well known subjects. I have made several return visits to some old haunts in Sussex, especially my much loved Hamsey. When i lived in Lewes i walked out to Hamsey to paint three or four days a week, spending the whole of each day recording the changes in light and weather, and the progress of farming during the seasons. Although i no longer live in Sussex i find it refreshing to go back to places i know well - there are always differences and i can always find a new aspect to inspire my painting.

Closer to home i constantly find new places which influence my work. Just walking from my cottage i find inspiration from the field edges, green lanes, woodland, and the quiet country lanes. The Suffolk coast is a favourite source for paintings, and i find myself drawn to the sea at Adeburgh and Orford - a complete contrast to the rugged coastline and moorland of Cornwall which i have always used in my work, and which i have been painting since sunny holidays as a boy.

Indeed, the coast is likely to be a more prominent feature of my work during the coming year as i will have the use of a cottage within sight of the sea, giving me a wonderful oppertunity to explore and walk, and to produce a new series of drawings, paintings and etchings.'

Page 1 of 12

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12

Home - Paintings - Artist - Exhibitions - Next Exhibition - Past Exhibitions - Horizons Book
Coasts Book - News - Contact - Selected Events

Copyright © 2009 Paul Evans All rights reserved. Website by: Peter Evans