'Observations' | Paintings & Drawings
As we look down into a rock pool or examine the colourful textures of lichen and moss on a garden wall, each glance is its own small world. Absorbed by what we see, we go on to discover details within the detail: in our mind’s eye we explore vast spaces and distances. And from this tiny seed grows an appreciation of the overwhelming power of nature and the sacredness of the living earth.
Stephen takes this same journey in his studio as he studies the specimens he collects on rambles through woods and fields, in suburban parks, along beaches and in wild open spaces. He uses objects such as fallen leaves, fragments of rocks, tree bark or bird's nests as the starting point for his art. From these observations he develops his drawings and paintings into finished artworks of pure visual sensation which can be read as close-up surfaces or distant bird's-eye views. With their vigorous layers of vibrant colour the paintings and drawings reflect the elemental forces and principles underlying all natural structures, from the microscopic to the monumental. Stephen believes that by working intuitively from nature and with nature, delight in the senses can be our pathway to the divine.
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Paintings
Sketchbook Drawings
Painted Studies
Finished Drawings
