Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Artist's Statement


A few months ago I thought I'd better compose an Artist's Statement for my painting. So, I thought I'd show it to you:


ARTISTS STATEMENT: MARK F CHADDOCK
- Painter, Photographer, Poet



My paintings tend to be a one-act performance

My paintings are performed in a meditative state of consciousness.

My paintings are representational of the intricate and interconnected web of the cosmos as believed in Hinduism and Buddhism and recently proven by Physics: The Cosmic Net, if you like, or the Mathematical Chaos of form that is in perpetual flux, the eternal pattern of growth and collapse, of flowing and contracting.

They are about aesthetics and line, rather than analysis and form. That is to say, they are not representational of objects, not about figure, but a 2-dimensional pattern more related to drawing and calligraphy than the traditional expectation of painting with its representation of the outside world.

My paintings are about the inner world - the unconscious. And they are organic rather than cerebral, spontaneous rather than planned, natural rather than pre-determined.

Like past artists who painted in a similar style (eg. Jackson Pollock) my easel is the floor, and my paint is poured. Sticks and knives of various sizes are my brushes, and my paints are largely enamel paints because they give me the fluidity of line that I am seeking, affording better continuity during the ‘performance‘.

This painting style has its roots in Native American sand-painting, but also in the kolam and mandalas of Hinduism and Buddhism, respectively, which are performed in a state of No-Mind, or Trance. However, mine are not symbolic in nature, but representational of Wholeness. They are spontaneous and free.

Each is unique, and success or failure hinges on being in Sacred Space. Success is measured by harmony, pattern, balance. If a painting fails it is because Ego, or thought, has intruded. These paintings are based on intuition rather than relying on knowledge.

Each piece is approached with a dedication to Universal Spirit for the greater good of All.; and a period of initial meditation in order to access Sacred Space.

Influences

I have always had an interest in the unconscious mind and psychology. I spent over 20 years working in Psychiatry so my subject is a natural progression from that. Also, I have a strong interest in Eastern Spirituality and practice and man’s eternal search for Wholeness. In this respect I regularly meditate. This helps me access Sacred Space.
When I studied Fine Art I was drawn to Abstract Expressionism exemplified by the work of Jackson Pollock and the whole New York School during that period.


Mark F Chaddock, 2011

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Work In Progress


I'm pleased to say I've managed to complete a couple of 30 x 40 inch canvases this week in enamels and acrylics and I'm pleased with them. Both are in the 'Abstract Expressionism' style and based on something that comes from intuition rather than knowledge, and in that differing from the traditional style of painting in many ways: In fact, it would be fair to say it is the polar opposite, having no subject (other than the paint and canvas), no preliminary sketches, no drafts, no brushes etc. Here is one of them - let me know what you think. Please feel free to leave a comment.

Have a Creative week,
Mark

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Action Painting Update!


I've managed to get my 'brushes' out again and get action painting. I'm drawn to this type of painting because I've always had an interest in the subconscious and intuitive painting as a 'performance' - with no preliminary sketches, or subject or form. Just paint meets canvas. I love the calligraphy of the lines in particular, especially in black and white, something that I got into doing Life Drawings a decade ago on a Dip. Fine Art course. I thought you might like to see some of my recent works that are still drying in the 'studio'.

Have a good week and Keep Creating,

Mark

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Reflections


It's already two years almost since the last Mayo Artists Show held by the Linenhall, Castlebar. It's come around so quickly - always a good sign! Hmmm, what to enter? - photographs? paintings? both? I'm undecided as yet but the time for pondering is upon me, and anyone else that intends entering for that matter. This Biennial Artist's Show is always a great showcase of what Visual Art is being made in the county and is open to anyone that lives, lived or works in County Mayo. I think that's mostly correct. Anyway, the deadline for entries is usually around late November so I'll be watching out - in the Mayo News and the Linenhall Programme. Here is a photo I entered in the last show - i was going through a mannekin phase and Street mono photography and noticed this image in the Spanish Quarter of Galway city.
Apart from that, I wrote a 4 page Foreword to a new anthology book project on Type 2 diabetes today, which will take as long as it takes to recruit contributors and do the editing and publishing. I'll probably publish under my own press and convert it to an e/book too. It's amazing how accessible all this personal publishing is today. You can quite easily get your voice out there without much expense (except time!)
Right, so, as promised, here is "Reflections" from the 2009 Mayo Artist's Show.
Mark

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Something to Anticipate.


I'm currently performing a balancing act (or is it juggling?) between my painting, photography, and writing. However, today I want to mention how I'm progressing with my forthcoming 2nd book collection of poetry that I hope to launch next spring titled - A Hermit in Paradise'.

It has been two years in the writing and is, foremost, a collection of austere Nature poetry in the Ancient Chinese Ch'an buddhism 'Rivers and Mountains' (or Shan-Shui) tradition that reached its high point in the Tang dynasty.

I have all the poems written and redrafted - and redrafted, and redrafted (I draft a poem a minimum of 3 times, and often up to 7) and am making good progress with the editing (see sample below). I shall fine-tune everything over the winter months and look forward to getting out and doing readings and meeting people around my home county of Mayo here in Ireland next April/May.

I don’t have much, I don’t want much
My practice is non-attachment

Enjoying things as they pass
Letting the swallow fly free

Not wanting to capture and dissect him
Like the scientists

Searching for minds and souls in corpses
In order to do what? Clone one? put it on a stand in a museum?

See how it might win the next war?
Or make some company filthy rich?

Better to come sit with me
Beside the river counting breaths

And watch the golden sunrise on the mountain


I am also pleased to mention that I am presently involved in two thrilling book-projects with other artists; one here in Ireland, and the other in Vienna. With one, a painter, I am a collaborator. And with the other, an editor and contributor. I cannot say more at present because they are not my projects, but I am very excited about both of them as they are for very worthy causes. In due course I shall make them known to you.

Just now, with the shortening days of October, the light is beautiful. But, regrettably, I have not managed to indulge one of my other amin passions - Landscape Photography. Nevertheless, I intend to remedy that sometime soon. But for now, here is an image I made a few weeks ago of the Great Western Greenway (with a few lines of prose I composed).

Until the next blog,

Happy creating,
Mark