How the world wasn’t made

I think most people are doing what they can to help the environment. Recently when I expressed concern over some materials and processes, an arts professional replied “The world didn’t get this way due to the actions of artists.” In my own mind I later added “And how bad would the world be if all artists stopped producing art” to that nugget of wisdom.

Still we are so programmed to refuse, reuse, reduce and recycle that I can’t stop that thinking entering my art practice thinking as well.

Enter my ‘off cut’ works. These random striped paintings develop over a long period of time, gradually building up layers and colors from all the offcuts left from my process.

These are raw, undisciplined and gutsy works. It’s like they have taken the spirit with which they were collected and turned it inside out. No longer guilty little lengths of paint, they are now uncompromisingly honest, and blatant about it!

Today when I found I was stymied by the mess accumulated on my work tables (and other flat surfaces, like the floor!) it became obvious it was time to add to my in-progress off cut works. And I’m so glad I did. It’s given me a real boost in this time when much that is happening around us is beyond our control but has the power to affect both our mood now, and our future lives.