Stage 2 of the MA course has started actually with the completion of a painting. This was started a few weeks ago but put to one side during the build up for the stage 1 hand in and associated essay writing. Once this had all be completed I returned to the painting.
It is a continuation of the theme of the isolated figure confronted with a dilemma, the subject revisited from a previous work ‘White Bridge’ sourced from an archival photograph of my son on a very wet semi submerged rope bridge. This painting has an element of realism in the palette but is still rather loose and simple. The cropping gives the work a personal dimension as the viewer feels quite close to the central figure yet distant enough as to feel detached. The cropping also has a cinematic feel, like a still from a film with the body emerging from all four sides of the 76×50 canvas and as such does give a sense of drama and anticipation. As with the ‘White Bridge’ painting the figure is off centre, you can feel the movement of the bridge despite it appearing to be a bright day. The half seen second figure is looking towards the bridge offering a second dynamic to the work, they are holding the hand rail for stability but is this figure offering encouragement and advise or hindering passage?
Michael Palmer 