Sunday 16 November 2008

Independentista


40cm x 40cm
Mixed media and acrylic
2008

This painting was a real challenge because it represents a change of style and something new for me - combining collage, paint and graffiti. It is meant to represent a familiar site in Alicante City - especially in the old town known as El Barrio. It stressed me out on a number of occasions which illustrates, to me, that it was just the kind of challenge that I needed.

8 comments:

daviddrawsandpaints said...

Just exquisite! When I clicked onto your site and saw this I could immediately imaging it grabbing my attention from the far end of a room/gallery!
The balance of busy top half against tranquil lower half agrees with me. As do the colours.
Oh, and I like a bit of collage too!

Philip said...

Thanks David. I deleted an older blog so I am afraid , at the moment, you can't see my more usual work.This was an experiment but I enjoyed doing it enormously.

jafabrit said...

I really like the fact that at the bottom you have a word independentista. I makes me want to explore the relationship between that and the top half of the painting. The colours are glorious.
Compositionally I really love it, but I do wonder if there is a special reason that the top and bottom are equal? That almost suggests to me control of space (which may or may not be your intention and I am not suggesting it is a good thing or a bad thing).

The word independentista at the bottom suggests a struggle for freedom (perhaps escaping controlled environment) which cannot be blotted out no matter how pretty the lower half is.

I sound like I am from fart forum and bullshitting, but I think that pretty much sums up what my perception is.

Aesthetically it is a very pleasing painting with a little more depth to it that meets the eye.

Philip said...

Jafabrit

Thanks for the 'review'! I value your opinion. The 50/50 split thing also crossed my mind (afterwards) but I think I subconsciously ignored this when I was doing it. Graffiti in the street ignores any rules pretty much and I think I was just trying to capture this from all the various photos I have taken.

Thanks for your time and thought in doing this.

jafabrit said...

I can see how the 50/50 split reinforces ignoring the rules.

Lola said...

this work has a great feeling to it, i love the expression and color you have used.

Seth said...

Wondeful combination of techniques and media!

Philip said...

Lola and Seth

Thanks for this. I feel good about this painting for some reason.