Work For Design
It has always been an important part of my work to have a number of different threads of practice. Sometimes this has been simply for reasons of variety and a way of keeping the work 'fresh'. Alongside this there is also the concern for all practitioners as to how to make a living. Personally speaking, this has always required a willingness to diversify and use technical skills attained in one area of practice to apply to other fields which may have commercial possibilities. Alongside my main studio practice, as a painter and 2D visual artist, and my practice as an educator within and through 'Art', in recent years I have been lucky to be able to work alongside a number of Interior Designers. This has involved producing work to commission, for specific clients - both Private and Commercial, according to the individual Designer's vision and specification in relation to a particular scheme. Often this work is needed on quite a short deadline, and the technical requirements and even the style of work may vary considerably between one job and the next. Having to work in this way demands a certain level of discipline in the studio - an ability to work accurately and quickly - as well as continually stretching my technical skills. I view this as good practice and find this kind of work an enjoyable (for the most part) challenge. Often it is also the case that technical developments made in this area of work inform my own painting practice; in that sense, it is also time well spent!
Above is a studio shot of a couple of pieces made on paper, at the end of 2018. They were for London-based Interior Design Company 'The Six Collective', for a private client of theirs in southwest London. Happily, both their client and they were delighted with the work, once framed and installed. Hopefully they will give many years of pleasure to the client and move with them from one abode to another. I'm looking forward to more of these kinds of commissions in the coming year, and will post some of the results on here from time to time.
