Original artwork description:

This painting was created in response to sitting outside within the urban environment to listen to the various sounds surrounding me. Through sitting in three separate areas, for five minutes a piece, the goal was to listen for two minutes with eyes closed, listening to the sounds surrounding me, taking in the various sounds of nature and the urban environment. Then, for three minutes, time was spent looking at the surroundings and writing down words that become associated to what I was seeing and hearing.

This task was set as three exercises, at five minutes a piece, for a total of 15 minutes. Back in the studio the words written down were to act as a memorial to the events, to spark images in memory and respond by making marks on the surface of an A2 size sheet of mixed media paper. This painting is a result of this experience.

Later, the task was set that the words should be explored and brought together to form a poem based on the experience. Below is the poem for you to read. A copy of the poem and the small booklet of words will also accompany this painting.

'Afternoon Heat'

In the afternoon light,
Amidst chirping birds,
Yellow flowers in my sight,
Their melody, a joyful song heard.

Pea green building,
Close to cycle's tyres,
Dirty exhaust drifting,
Mix with flowers’ fires.

Daisies wrap around my toes,
Whispering tones so sweet,
Their chatter comfortingly flow,
In symphony of nature's beat.

A busy town’s hum and stir,
Seagulls cry upon the pave,
Phones and insects buzz, exhausts purr,
Whilst pigeons coo to misbehave.

Engines drawn as if in pain,
Chatter fills these potholed streets,
Tyres hum on tarmac lane,
Ivy echoes nature’s tune,
Winding and whispering secrets sweet,
As trees sing softly in this sleepy heat.

A Grose

Materials used:

Acrylic Paint on Mixed Media Paper

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