An investigation into experimental inspiration with particular reference to sound
While working on a large oil painting
during the spring of 2007 I had left the door open and the
bird song permeated the room. Then the feelings of colours connected to
this started to well up in my mind.
I had not heard of Synesthesia but a fellow student made me aware of it. I began my investigations into synesthesia.
Synesthesia means joined sensation.
This is where two or more senses combine, there are many combinations
of sensory blendings but the most common is colour sound synesthesia.
For my bird sound experiments I am concentrating on the birds of the
uplands and woodlands of Northern England such as Red Grouse and Willow
Warbler as these bird calls are the most familiar to me.
Below are some studies of the call of the Red Grouse painted in watercolour on rice paper.
The two paintings above
are both 122cmx 150cm and are a progression from the waterclour studies
above. They are both painted in oil on canvas using a staining process
which was invented by the American Abstract Expressionist Helen
Frankenthaler.
122cmx 150cm
Oil on canvas
£600
This painting is called 'Jackdaws and Willow Warblers.'
I recorded the sound of the two birds in my wood, they were singing simultainiously.
The blue sharp forms at the top suggested the Jackdaws and the thin yellow lines across the front suggested, willow warblers.
122cmx 150cm
Oil on canvas
£600
This painting was inspired by a sound installation in the cellar of Belsay Hall, Northumberland.
The sound was of a deep ambient nature with interjections of the male
voice, rather like monks chanting. The reds and browns indicate the
background hum and the turquoise and blues the human voice.
Sound Chamber
122cmx 150cm
Oil on Canvas
£600
This painting was inspired by a video work by the same artist who made the Belsay sound installation (above)
It is called 'Melancholia' after the video piece.
