My latest works are of children’s toys which have a wonderful shiny plastic feel to them which translates well into paint; I see this being a subject matter I will continue to work with.
The greatest influence on my work over the last two years has been the American photo realists, all of which I find remarkable, but in particular Rod Penner and Ralph Goings. I can identify with many of the characteristics of their work, in particular the meticulous attention to detail and the relationships between the objects in their paintings.
These can be tragic, romantic and kitsch. These relationships are as valuable as those between living subjects, and often in the absence of people can convey far more desolate sentiments which can explore far weightier issues than their literal appearance, such as the obvious existential connotations of a single salt shaker say, to the question of business ethics raised by painting a packet of sugar.
