Welcome to the Studio
From Humble beginnings Andrew’s paintings usually begin with a complete underpainting of the work to set up the balance of the composition. Heavier dark blues and violets are a good base to start adding translucent layers of paint and medium. In most cases there are at least three layers to any area or object - the branch alone in romancing the Madonna (below) not only used eleven different colours to construct, it took twice as many layers to achieve the desired effect and took over two solid weeks of work. Andrew was surprised with the ease the birds were finished. One fun afternoon was all it took to bring them to life.
Drop into the studio every now and then to see what work is in progress.
Greenwater at SOL Gallery October 2023
compare the images - You can see the progress between the pile of debris that has collected against the tree. The skull has had more detail since the photo was taken - Andrew lost count of the layers of paint and glazing, a dozen perhaps, he suggests.
Balandermerrie study for the Green water series 180cm x 120cm
Andrew enjoys exploring an impressionistic style while trying to weave surrealist themes and ideas within the scene he creates. It was not something he set about to achieve, “It was a natural progression evolving from my exploration.” he says. “Greenwater is a combination of the reality that I observe and my dream-like ideas of what a true paradise may look like, compared to expectations.”
Studio Bites
Not quite organised chaos, the creative corner, where thought and productivity meet.
Andrew likes to stretch his own canvass’s’. It allows him to tailor make the panels to suit the image he has been developing.
Poppet is a regular visitor - particularly when its snack or dinner time. FEED ME!
With canvass’s getting larger it was time for an upgrade. the standard easel is okay for works up to two metres, but otherwise a new edition to the studio was needed.
October 2022 saw a wall easel built - pictured with a stretcher measuring three metres by two metres
Artist in Studio - photo by Ben Goh