I am currently working on a heatwave series. The paintings are based on photos I have taken of a tree-lined road near to where I live, shot at the end of July this year ,when the grass was beginning to scorch after weeks of high temperatures and no rain at all for over a month.

The following are some notes on my work process:

Getting the fundamental elements of painting such as colour, contrast, and composition into a good balance is an ongoing challenge in picture making. Finding a point between realism and abstraction which works well adds another layer of consideration. However, the greatest challenge for me personally is capturing the immediacy and vitality that I can feel in the source material. It is necessary to apply brush strokes with intention, precision, and delicacy to achieve this.

I have seen this almost magical process when watching Chinese calligraphers paint with both confidence and a meditative calmness. This is the attitude of mind I want to bring into my own work. Yet, returning to the fundamental considerations mentioned above, I have realised it is difficult to consciously hold the different elements in my mind while maintaining a fluidity of brushwork, without preparation. 

Painter and teacher Nick Bodimeade advises working on a series of paintings. Starting a new version of a painting whenever a sticking point is reached, only returning to the original later, with fresh eyes. This approach helps to build a vocabulary of color and shape without the internal pressure to get it “right.” If elements such as composition and palette preparation have been addressed, at least to some extent, then it is then more likely that something fresh and immediate can emerge.