Encounters 2023–

Encounters is, in part, concerned with the bringing together of common objects in a constructed image. These works also involve what I call poetic-play which can take a variety of forms depending on the ideas I am working with. The bringing together of objects that are not often seen together is one example. The attributing of thoughts or emotions to a plastic figure is another example.    

With some works there is a nod to conceptual art. For example, the title of an artwork may evolve before the image. The title, in this case, acts as a guide in the creation of the image. My titles may also involve poetic alliteration. A secondary intent is to create ‘truthful’ photographic images. My photographs in this series are clearly fictions. 

Photography, the tradition I began with, involved going out with the camera to photograph ‘people, places, things.’ That process involves framing one’s subject matter in a meaningful way. That process is not dissimilar to working in the studio where one puts things together in a constructed setting to be photographed. With either way of working there are many possibilities and choices.

Artists from the time of cave paintings, and probably before, have borrowed from other artists. All objects made by humans, including artworks, are cultural artefacts that should be open for considered reference by other artists. I have used artworks reproduced in books or aspects of known artworks as elements in some of my artworks. They are part of our collective visual language. I see my artworks, where I have borrowed from another artist, as a homage to that artist.

The word ‘photography’ was derived in the 19th century from the Greek words photo meaning ‘light’, and graphin meaning ‘drawing’. A photograph was thought to be a ‘drawing with light’.  With my most recent work I have been including my drawings with an introduced figure, or figures, and, at times, added objects. I am referring to both concepts of drawing - by hand and with a camera.

Most of the photographs in this gallery are for sale. If you are interested in a print or a framed artwork, contact me and we can discuss the details. This is true for most of the works on this website.