Northants and Rutland Open Studios 2024

Explanatory notes:

I have always loved the Moon and in the past, have painted many studies in watercolour (as can be seen in the watercolour section of this site.)

Growing up, I loved Hammer Horror Films, which would often have a shot of a Moon to set the scene, and maybe through these I developed a gothic sensibility.  

Gathered around the Campfire for one last story of mystery and imagination, gothic sensibility refers to these stories that identify emotions which can be both negative and positive, that are fluid and difficult to define and this uncertainty creates surprise and melodrama. Romantic fantasies that involve sadness and sorrow, but also delight and happiness, for without the latter, how do we know the former exists.

"Horses of the Blue Moon" (Oil on board)

After walking the dog in Moonlight, 

On which I had been contemplating the events of 1812,

(The Moon shone on them) 

Came the comforting Melancholy of the ghosts of the presence 

Of the return of the hope of that Meritocracy. 

And the Horses await,

To travel to that Promised Future.

"Joyful Moon" (Oil on canvas)

The idea for this image emerged twenty years ago, whilst driving, turning a corner and seeing that huge orange Moon.

Making a false start, an experiment on how to create that vision using unfamiliar media, black tissue on canvas with acrylics, that was abandoned.

Then later sketches for composition and drawings  to make the tree and the position of the Moon.

And finally on canvas, create the glow of the presence of the memory of the fleeting moment.