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Painting on the go
Author: mgwells
Artist, born 1983.
Grays School of Art 2001-2005
Follow me on twitter if you want (though it is very little art related):
@wellywellywells
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Skull paintings
For years I have periodically painted still life paintings of skulls. Sometimes these have taken a vanitas approach incorporating incorporating other symbolic elements (flowers/coins/ objects) to suggest a narrative or deeper meaning to the viewer.
More frequently they are something of a portrait of the skull where it is the sole or primary aspect of the composition .
In addition to attempting to develop a striking image, these paintings function as a form of painting practice, where I try to develop aspects of my skill and techniques.
Below are some recent examples:
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In focus: Perfume Drawings
As mentioned in previous posts, around 2017 I produced a number of illustrative paintings inspired by Patrick Suskind’s novel “Perfume”.
Prior to painting I produced a series of works on paper in biro or pencil, to develop the compositions in an improvisatory manner.
An ongoing work in oil and collage on panel
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Work in Progress
A glimpse of a work in progress, behind the sky on my sleeve
I was invited by Moray Art Centre to submit work for their Christmas exhibition which is a showcase of recent graduates.
A selection from my series of watercolour illustrations inspired by Manic Street Preachers album “Everything Must Go” are included, and are on view until 20th Jan.
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John Kinross Scholarship
I’m pleased to announce that I am one of the recipients of this years Royal Scottish Academy ‘John Kinross Scholarship’.
This enables me a grant to study in Florence for a period up to 12 weeks. I intend to visit next summer, primarily to study frescoes, any Caravaggio I can lay my beady eye on and, hopefully, old master drawings- drawing being very much at the root of my practice.
November also saw the presentation of the Gray’s Postgraduate showcase “Onwards” at the Look Again project space in Aberdeen.
For this curated presentation of the MA course, the work of mine selected was the triptych. “An Amicable Separation”, gouache, watercolour, acrylic .
The last (for now?…) studies influenced by songs from the Manic Street Preachers album “Everything Must Go” have been added to the gallery page: https://mattwells.art.blog/narrative-painting/portfolio/
Below are a few of them.
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From the archive
“We’re all in the same boat, but some of us aren’t getting our feet wet”, acrylic on canvas, 30 x 60cm
This study for a larger painting was painted a couple of Prime Ministers ago, during the reign of David Cameron. An allegory of class disparity.
And the 70 x 100cm painting it spawned, which is difficult to get a photo of due to reflections on the dark paint.
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Landscape Gallery
As part of my practice I sometimes make landscape studies. The reasons vary from documenting the passage through time and space (in my walking drawings), sourcing potential locations and elements for inclusion as setting for later narrative works, to the enjoyment of applying paint to mimic colour combinations, texture and interesting lighting effects.
I have added a gallery here and otherwise stated all works are available. Enquiries can be made to matthewgwells@outlook.com
The first series added consists of 25 studies of the Moray coastline painted in acrylic on card, around A5 size.
Matt Wells Art 