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Pre-Degree Art 1972 - 1978
I
always had an interest in drawing and sketching after taking
an interest in ornithology as a young person. Taking notes
and sketching from books on birds I kept scrap books.
Whilst at Alec Hunter
Secondary School in Braintree, Essex, I came across a curved
glass TV screen. Using gloss paints, I used the glass as a
canvas and painted a portrait of Jimi Hendrix. I continued
to explore this medium placing two or three panels together
for a 3D effect. Later I moved on to use hardboard and canvas
board and explored techniques using oil paints.
From 1973 to 1976, I painted a series of surreal pictures
influenced by my dreams, teenage fears and anxieties, the
cinema, humour, as well as delved into shocking ideas, sensations,
and madness. During this period I achieved 'A' Level in Art
and attended regular figure drawing classes.
In 1976 I started a two-year
Art Foundation course at Braintree College, Essex.
This gave me the opportunity to experiment with various mediums
and techniques, from clay modelling, ceramics, print making
(screen and etching) 3D design, painting, life drawing and
photography. It was difficult to move away from my surrealist
ideas and to accept modern art theories. I become confused
with the art world and was battling against this and painting
techniques and traditions that I wished to explore.
I did dabble with an airbrush! I
also acheived 'A' Level in Art History.
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