DAVID C THOMAS

Artist's statement

Based in the South West of England David Thomas studied Fine Art at Ravensbourne and Slade schools of art. He taught fine art, painting and sculpture, for many years in colleges of art throughout the UK. He has exhibited extensively in the UK and, less so, abroad. Dave works across a range of media including photography, printmaking and three dimensional disciplines.

Living in north Wales for fourteen years sparked a deep love for the stunning landscape and unique geology of the area. Exploring the hills and summits in and around Snowdonia led to an instinctive visual response to the Welsh geography. The ever-changing weather patterns bring dramatic skies, mostly damp conditions and occasional sun!

Recently, I have been experimenting with watercolours as a contrast to oil paint, exploring the immediate, expressive possibilities of this water based medium has been an exciting and challenging discovery for visual experimentation. The work has been inspired by the atmospheric conditions I have witnessed and captured through photography. The interplay of light, colour and texture in the paintings are a testament to the ever-changing and captivating nature of the environment.

I approach painting with the intention of creating a new interpretation rather than simply recreating an existing image. My focus is on capturing the intrinsic essential particularities of the landscape that give it its distinctive character. I am not interested in painting something that already exists, but rather in using paint to explore forms and marks that will ultimately convey emotional weight. My goal is to produce paintings that go beyond representation, and instead delve into the deeper essence of the landscape.

In a world preoccupied with technology, there is something remarkable about painting.

“I love the expressive mark making possibilities of using oil paint, moving the surface, reworking and improvising, at times incorporating wax for texture and greater mobility. I use paint to explore new visual forms to engender an intense response”. The outcome will hopefully be a result that holds the viewer’s attention and provokes a reflective empathetic response.

Turner is a reference point as is classical composition along with the raw, dramatic impact of abstract expressionist painting.