For me art is a way of focussing on a single aspect of the world and allows me to drill into the details. Structure, movement, balance, colour and rhythm are of key interest to me. I find complexity and detail mesmerizing.
My art usually starts with an keen interest in a subject or a wish to emulate a technique. I have a clear image of what I'm shooting for. Generally my work is an experiment so during the process my goal adapts, new features appear and some fall by the wayside.
I like to take an almost algorithmic approach to creating a work of art it helps create a coherent feeling. Algorithmic design is partly why I am drawn to using the techniques of Celtic artists. The methods allow me to define structure and create a visually complex design. This framework can be used to try different techniques, tonal and colour schemes. In this way I find the creation of a Celtic design allows more freedom than its rigid rules might suggest.
With reference specifically to the latest pieces featured on this website in most cases (where stated in the gallery captions) the design is a single line, this symbolises eternity. For me this is a wilderness right on my doorstep. The embedding of Zoomorphic humans in designs show the flowing connection between surfer and surf. The designs ‘Point Breaking Wave 1’ and ‘Plunging Wave 1’ are experiments in morphing the geometry of knot work onto surfaces to produce a semi realistic image of the subject. This is turning the idea of Celtic art, originally developed as an art form where doctorine did not allow the depiction of nature to be turned on its head with a direct representation of nature. Variations in line spacing and thickness are to introduce rhythm to the design. In ‘Green Wave 1’ the light shining through the back of the wave is represented with thin uniform interlacing. In ’Point Braking Wave 1’ an increasing progression of spacing is used to show the diminishing of power away from the curl of the wave.
More comments on my art may be found in my blog.
Chris Bennett, 1/9/2008
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