Something new....

I have been experimenting with different ways of applying the paint to the canvas lately. While I still love my misty, floating clouds and broad brush strokes of oil paint, the last two paintings that I have done have included some heavy impasto work - using a credit card to apply (some element of irony in that in my life I am sure...) and a silicon tool that I bought ages ago and have suddenly fallen in love with...

Whats interesting is that in moving to include other tools in my process, the effect flows on to the composition of the painting. With an increase in complexity of texture, I found that I could refine and restrain the composition. My last two paintings have been very strongly linear in the use of a horizon line and quite stark in the colours used and simple design elements. Minimal in approach?

Not sure where this is heading but I find it very calming on my wall which is after all, what I always have in mind when I start a painting - every painting is actually painted for my own walls in my own house... something that I want to look at to bring back a memory or create a feeling for myself...

And then, its a bonus if someone else appreciates it too...