James Gouldthorpe
I have always been drawn to narrative and even at its most abstract my work suggests a plot. I have found that referencing a story is an effective way to explore my own particular conceptual ideas, and a compelling way to engage an audience. Painting one image often does not fully express the ideas I am exploring, but painting several images and thoughtfully juxtaposing them next each other they begin to create their own visual language. My approach to creating work has begun to resemble writing which I rigorously edit. As I pin paintings to the wall, I layer, remove, reconfigure and repaint until a compelling narrative begins to form. I frequently refer to my library of old books and magazines searching for relevant texts which I transcribe into the painted works. As I paint the work expands and shrinks finding unexpected directions, sometimes growing until it fills entire walls.