E-Globe Artist's Project article by Jade Riley

A while back I had the pleasure of chatting to Jade Riley, a writer and photographer, who has since written the following little piece about my practice. Be sure to check out Jade’s other writings on her site.

Thank you Jade.

What I love most about art is getting to know the artist behind the work and find out haw far the gap is between intention and visual content. Brian’s work is saturated in content which speaks to me personally. His enigmatic sketches draw me in, invite me in to almost converse with his subjects. Delicate line, yet bold movements. This is definitely an artist with something to say!

Brian has been creating art since graduating in 2010 from the Belfast School of Art. Brian’s admiration for Frances Bacon really shines through ‘His quote - unlock the valves of feeling sticks to mind’ This is exactly what I see in Brian’s’ work – an organic recording of experiences. The images allow us to absorb a jolt of feeling in that split second, the outer experience is paramount to the impact of the image. Brian also states that he also relates to Dutch artist Marlene Dumas ‘for her unflinching look at the human condition’.

I love Brian’s process in relation to preparing a piece, he works from life occasionally but a lot of his work is based on personal archival images (photographs) which pull themselves from the pile of sacred storage and into the painterly life of human experience. The naming of Brian’s work also adds to this sense of open mindedness, they guide you into a familiar overgrown garden, but it’s up to you which flower you pick. Will it lead you to a world of pain, trauma and suffering? Or will it lead you to a place of reminiscence, memory and delight? I revel in delight as to whether artists actually find out which paths their viewers take.

A quick and clever hand creates painterly gestures which haunt and yearn. The immediacy of the sketches mirrors the fleeting experiences and thoughts we drown ourselves in every single day.

Brian starts conversations with the viewers trauma and experiences, shakes their hands and whispers, ‘it’s OK’. His paintings feel like dreams of escapism, assuredly a remedy of sorts for rattling thoughts and questions unanswered. A mixture of bitter sweet.

There is an aura of subversion in Brian painting called ‘Rose’. An image of serial killer Rose West which has been watermarked with a pale, white rose, revealing her dead, dull eyes and plump red lips. Bleached of all colour and striking across her face, stealing the identify of what a rose should be. Her face has absorbed the colour, significant of the life she drained from her victims. A very powerful image which is haunting and striking.

Brian’s work ‘Hideout’ is full of movement and energy. A nod to nature and a reminder of our need to recharge. This painting for me signifies adventure, whether that be from all that is bad or from jubilance and wonder lust. The figure is ready. Ready for movement, ready for progression. Ready.

Brian’s work ‘procession study’ is a particular favourite of mine. The fifth figure giving us their full attention. We have been caught out. There is something rhythmical about this piece. The trudge, the swing and the sense of isolation and togetherness coming together. A duality of personal and private experiences.

Please follow Brian’s work at the following tags to ensure you don’t miss out on these relics of imagery!

RDH: MAY 2019

03/05/19

Painting Peer Critique hosted in CCA Derry.

Artist John Robinson with his work on the temporary stage at CCA Derry.

04/05/19

Close up of “The Lost Woods Study”

Been a while since using leaves to print on. Needs more layers but for now it solves the issue of the line… breaks the eye.

So after four months and four days I’ve finally finished a painting and broke my 2019 drought.

Detail of “Rose” - oil and charcoal on canvas.

05/05/19

First time visiting and it was like opening an old wound.

11/05/19

One very creepy window display.

12/05/19

Great Art show: “Goya: Flesh and Blood”

Started “Sack Race” (working title) and stupidly didn’t check material inventory before starting.

Studio shot of "Sack Race" in progress

Close up of "Sack Race" with sawdust applied.

17/05/19

Sketching tonight. Past self was clever enough to leave certain works aside for potential events.

Study of an Uncle.

18/05/19

Really happy with how the studio went today.

More depth put into "Sack Race".

Close up of a dripping shadow

Started work on "The Ferryman".

19/05/19

Completed “The Lost Woods Study”.

20/05/19

Not to rely on gimmick. It has been an invaluable tool - one that I will continue to utilise - but only when the work demands it. If it is forced (like “Woman With the Dogs” and, more recently, “Ruins”) the work stagnates and imagery drowns in an unnecessarily complicated mess.

21/05/19

Should take own advice from time to time about differing paint properties.

In “Sack Race” - the looser the playing field the better. Almost tempted not to touch it at all.

A sort of closure. A temporary full stop.

22/05/19

Ran out of time. Need to keep RD by side.

23/05/19

Ring-gate.

25/05/19

“I know more. The lack of whats in the current work informs the next.” - Eva Rothschild.

"The Ferryman" - detail 1

"The Ferryman" - detail 2

More layers to “The Ferryman”. Because the face of the ferryman is so small it would be easy to fall into the familiar trap of aiming to capture all the detail and likeness of the source image. Focusing instead on light and tone - maybe even a hint of a blur? Like the figure is in the middle of turning to look at the viewer.

Surprise / Confrontation / Acknowledgement

Back and forth with “Sack Race”. Happy with certain elements, like the sky but have consequently fogged up other sections in the process. Eager to not fall into the familiar trap of muddiness and over-painting.

More progress to the sky in “Sack Race”.

27/25/19

29/05/19

Late night sketchbook work.

RDH: MARCH 2019

02/03/19

“The Ivy Crown" progress.

Struggling with “Bereft Clown”. I think it’s too contrived. Another image overlay maybe?

"Bereft Clown" - overlay

"Ruins" - detail

"The Lost Woods Study"

Adding another image automatically forces you to simplify the composition in a way so that just the essentials are left.

Loosening up on “Ruins”. Music really makes a difference in the studio for me.

The imagery may be personal but the doors are left open. Viewers bringing their own experiences / ideas to the work is paramount.

Don’t like the word ‘style’. It’s too certain of itself.

03/03/19

“Sack Race”

Bit better productivity wise.

07/03/19

“Guardian Study”

Sketchbook work tonight.

08/03/19

…has “Bereft Clown” gone the way of the dodo yet again? Is it stifling and holding me back? Even just setting it aside for a week or two could help.

09/03/19

"Ruins" - Detail of Child

"Rose" - Work in Progress

Temporarily removed the shrub in “Ruins”.

10/03/19

Pablo the Monstera

15/03/19

Lynda Benglis doesn’t make work for other people or for specific shows but purely out of curiosity.

“The Boatman”

Attempted some sketchbook work - hit and miss - mostly miss.

16/03/19

Cake tin for the sky disc. I think it’s a good idea to get closer to the colour scheme in my head than what is on the canvas at the moment.

20/03/19

21/03/19

“Quick Call”

Sketchbook work.

23/03/19

In the studio where I’m happiest. Even if it’s not working well it’s about going through the process.

Detail of a weeping willow.

A good bit of experimentation today but heading in the right direction nonetheless.

24/03/19

"Regal Nest" ideas

"Tarnished" ideas

Corita Kent rules:

1. Find a place you trust and then try trusting it for a while.

2. General duties of a student: Pull everything out of your teacher. Pull everything out of your fellow students.

3. General duties of a teacher: Pull everything out of your students.

4. Consider everything an experiment.

5. Be self disciplined. This means finding someone wise or smart and choosing to follow them. To be disciplined is to follow in a good way. To be self disciplined is to follow in a better way.

6. Nothing is a mistake. There’s no win and no fail. There’s only make.

7. The only rule is work. If you work it will lead to something. It’s the people who do all of the work all of the time who eventually catch on to things.

8. Don’t try to create and analyse at the same time. They are different processes.

9. Be happy whenever you can manage it. Enjoy yourself. It’s lighter than you think.

10. “We’re breaking all the rules. Even our own rules. And how do we do that? By leaving room for X quantities.” - John Cage.

Helpful hints: Always be around. Come or go to everything. Always go to classes. Read anything you can get your hands on. Look at movies carefully, often. Save everything. It might come in handy later.

There should be new rules next week.

26/03/19

…in my thoughts today.

“If you mix your voice with others’ voices you feel as though you are caught in a hook.

Franz Kafka - “Children on the Road”

27/03/19

So in front of a warm fire and three sleeping dogs, I asked Jan to marry me.

Thankfully she said yes.

30/03/19

A little semblance of normality today: back in the studio.

Less contrast between the sun and sky?

Slowly but surely making progress on the “The Lost Woods Study”.

Detail of “The Lost Woods Study”.

31/03/19

…more work done to “Rose” today.

Detail of “Rose” - work in progress.