Colin Heavingham

London-based artist in mixed media

Private view: Friday 24th June 6:30 – 8:30

Nude after John Brack

This picture is based on an oil painting by the Australian artist, John Brack. It might seem contradictory because I’ve always thought that Brack’s paintings were ‘too perfect’. I have never liked perfection but, in this case, I liked the figure and the pose. So,striving to undo some of my ‘art training’, where I was expected to paint in an abstract way, I attempted to paint my version.

The temptation for me to paint figures is so strong that now I just go with what it dictates. I greatly enjoy painting and hope all my paintings express my love for the medium.

I was fascinated by oil paintings from an early age and wanted pictures for my walls. This was quite beyond me financially  so I painted them for myself in a style that I liked. I really wanted to keep the majority of them to use the ideas for larger works, but I was unable to store them. This prompted me to get the ideas and images down in note form, so that I could work on them as paintings later on.

I am not in love with the ‘business’ side of painting – nor the process of hanging in galleries and the blurb that invites the audience to browse. Perhaps this can be explained by my background which comes form the ‘chaos of the 60s’ and where art was a happening – a musical and artistic extravaganza – no holds barred!  There were many Art Labs where anybody could just walk in, free of charge, and take part in the activity. I have still to acclimatise to the ‘money-making’ aspects of today, and find it difficult.  I tend to want to run when everyone else wants to walk.

However, I went to art school by accident but it turned out to be the very best thing I have ever done. It has given me a part of my life that I would otherwise never have known.

Colin Heavingham