My brother and his girlfriend got engaged last year. Gracie, his now wife, has a unique way of approaching the world; her style is fluid and see-saws from outrageously chic to minimal everyday, which I find really exciting, as you never know what she’s gonna come out with. I was absolutely thrilled when their save the date arrived and it was a pantone colour swatch. Immediately I knew I wanted to create a series of small paintings for their wedding that all their guests would be abel to take home as a gift.
Gracie and Cormac collected a rainbow of army men, little plastic toys, candlesticks and vases which would dictate the colours for each table setting. I decided to keep it simple and create a series of paintings in a specific colour pallet for each table. Usually my colour packs draw from the landscape, or a specific theme, so it was really refreshing to use one colour as a jumping off point.
Nothing is every just one colour though isn’t it? Colours compliment each other, and they appear more vibrant when they’re kicked off by another colour. Like how green and pink push each other out to the front, or how arranging various hues blue together can allude to purple. I approach the mark making element of the series as a system, a kind of factory line. I apply each stroke to each page with the same gesture, allowing myself to vary slightly from one to the next. I repeat this with each layer and stroke of colour until I feel the painting is balanced. The result is that each series has a kind of conversation about how the tiniest shift in my hand can evoke two distinct images.
Sure the whole family got involved, and my brother hung multicoloured lanterns across their ceremony, and my sister created an intricate table plan using paint decals, and between the bells and whistles the whole venue was popping with colour.
At the end of the night I was totally chuffed to see none of my paintings had been left behind so thanks to Cormac and Gracie for having such sound friends who appreciate the effort, and who have been sending me photos of the paintings framed in their homes. Delighted!
The idea behind this could lend itself so well to many occasions. I began to think about creating works that are specific to people and their own experiences. Caputuring a special moment, or a favourite location, or a specific flavour, smell, memory. the possibilities are endless.
If you have a particular moment you would like captured in paint, get in touch! I would love to hear your ideas.
Thanks to their photographer White Cat Studio for capturing the essence of their wedding, and for taking these deadly photographs of my work.