74 Brian A. Richardson

Artist Painter

Artform: Mixed media, Painting

In my work I explore the relationship between sensation and thought, often questioning my own perception of reality. I love the act – the communion – of painting. When I begin, a dialogue develops between myself and the surface of the canvas, with paint acting as the catalyst in the process.

This private and introspective exchange becomes a constant balance between instinct and logic, chaos and order, chance and intention. These opposing forces create the dynamic tensions that shape the work.

The act of painting itself is spontaneous and involves continual risk-taking. Sometimes the process is intuitive; at other times it seems to be guided by my unconscious. In either case it reflects my imaginative life, expressed through symbol and gesture. When I paint, music often plays an important role. It helps me relax and suspend the analytical side of my mind, allowing me to enter what is often called “the zone” or “flow”.

The present moment is where my freedom lies. I allow my hands and eyes to work without interference from conscious analysis. Sometimes I lead the process; at other times I respond to what appears on the canvas, arranging elements until I sense that the painting has reached its conclusion — and then I often find myself asking, “How did that happen?”

The images that emerge are shaped by my ongoing collection of visual impressions, whether consciously observed or drawn from memory and imagination. I think of this as building a personal “visual vocabulary”, formed from both the external world and an inner landscape of symbolism and metaphor. Nothing is entirely insignificant or accidental.

When the dialogue with the painting ends, the result often reflects my own thoughts and feelings about the human condition, social concerns, or political debate. What interests me equally is how others respond to the work. Each viewer brings their own experience and interpretation, creating a new dialogue with the painting. Our senses respond to visual stimuli in deeply personal ways.

Who influences me? It is difficult to reduce this to a simple list, but it must include the paintings and writings of J. M. W. Turner, William Blake, Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee – as well as my grandchildren.

My work can be found in a small number of institutions, but mainly in private collections in the UK, Spain, the USA and New Zealand.

Venue

33 Windrush Crescent
Malvern
WR14 2XG

Directions: From the island in Barnards Green, proceed along the Guarlford Straight (0.8m) turn left Hall Green, then left Teme Ave, then right Windrush Crescent.

What 3 words location: riders.create.tuck

Tel: 07887 897397
Instagram: brian_a_richardson
Facebook: BARFineArts

Explore artist profiles