It's all about colour..........

At the opening of "The Art of Carnival" at the W3 Gallery

 "Carnavale" oil on canvas 131 x 76cm

 I painted "Carnavale" in 2010 at the Hampstead School of Art as part of a pair of paintings - the second an abstract interpretation of the Mona Lisa. Having visited the Dublin City, Hugh Lane Gallery previously, I was struck in awe and heavily influenced by Sean Scully's "Walls of Lights"paintings. In "Carnavale", I explored the boundaries of contrasting, subjued colours and it developed as an expression of the spirit of the annual Venice spectacle.

I am pleased this painting along with six others, have been included in the "Art of Carnival" Exhibition at the W3 Gallery, Acton Town, London. The common denominator to these pieces is the exploration of colour and allowing the colour to dictate the painting process above all other considerations. "Stanza" painted in 2011, was conceived at the Slade School of Art, in which I tried to convey a sense of the rhythm, harmony and freedom expressed in poetry. The rest of the pieces on show were painted during recent lockdowns between 2020 and 2021.

Speaking about colour, Roy Lichenstein said "Colour is crucial in painting, but is very hard to talk about... It depends on too may factors". Colour has a life of it's own. It can set a mood, attract attention or make a statement. It can be used to energise, cool things down or create a feeling of or tranquility. Those visually impaired or blind have a sense of colour.

Matisse once said about painting "Colour helps to express light,

"Untitled" Acrylic on canvas

not the physical phenomenon, but the only light that really exists, that in the artists brain". 

Yes, it's all about colour and many thanks to the W3 Gallery for the opportunity to show these pieces as part of this years "Art of Carnival" Exhibition.

W3 Gallery, 185 High St, Acton, W3 9DJ

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