TIMEOFF NOSTALGY

Top( L) Emulating a technique using cut out pieces of cloth and a variety of stitches
(R) Of my earliest work in abstraction and one I regard as iconic

(L) This is my experimentation of the technique when tie die was vogue...only I used enamel paint on burlap as medium.Another one of a kind for now since then.

Horizon

Horizon was my first attempt at landscapes. A water color on paper rendition in abstraction, Horizon hung prominently at the dining hall of our family home where we congregated daily whilst friends and guests did for many a function. It has a history dating more than 2 and a half decades as a backdrop in photographs at all these functions. Looking at some of these old photographs prompted my nostalgic visit to some of my earliest works created as a pastime all of this month. I actually designed it so and fashioned the wood framing by hand myself.
The Horizon... I might add ... is a beaut!

Copyright 2006 HETCHESS

NUDE ON WOOD ( N.O.W.)

Testimony of my dabbling ways from as far back as the '80s is N.O.W. Any unused material available that could be, was happily recycled into art. I fashioned this creation by hand using a cutting blade and screwdriver out of a leftover bit of board for background, cut out plywood for the inner frame and posing model and finally parcel tape which I fashioned into the outer frame... all glued firmly into place for the finish. Matisse must be mentioned for his influential style upon which this one was fashioned.
Copyright 2006 HETCHESS

THE EARLY '80s

Having read about Andy Warhol in Time magazine then and his featured Marilyn Monroe renderings, the Pop Art trend and all ... I tried my hand on the subject in his signature style...( never his originality I must add )

simply for the fun of it.

Copyright 2006 HETCHESS

TIMEOUT FOR NOSTALGY

Often I get asked if I do portraits. Much as I have produced some realism work from time to time I simply have to marvel at the cutting edge technology and the digital age of photography which I personally think can deliver far better results all round ...particularly for portraits. Left to my own creative representation, I am game and can rise to the challenge even if I do not consider portrait painting my forte.

"Nobody, Me, Myself and I" was my first attempt at a life sized (self)portrait using marker pen on paper for media . I unearthed an old photo of this painting featured here. The nostalgic bit is that I did this in 1983 as a pastime.

Copyright 2006 HETCHESS

The Lotus Collection 2004

I conceptualised, researched and completed the Lotus Collection during the year 2004... hence the title. The collection of 21 paintings in varying forms and styles from minimalist to graphic realism were done on canvas in bold expressive acrylic paints to profile the dynamism and vibrancy of this incredible and spectacular aquatic plant.

I drew inspiration from its long history as an art form, as an article of food, its prolific ornamental form in decoration, its spiritual symbolism and sanctity in eastern religions, its representation of Purity, Longevity, Good Health, Fortune and Divine Wisdom.

For posterity I had this collection compiled into a catalogue for copyright and to mark the start of turning my talent for creating into designing as well. This revelation for me is more meaningful...selling designs I create compared to the opportunity of selling prints of my work. Originality is Omnipotent.

KEEP ON KEEPING ON

Its been sometime now since I made - what some well meaning people have called "a bold / brave/daring..." - move from my somewhat cushy corporate job to pursue my passion as a profession...and then there have been those who have stopped short of labelling me a fool.

What used to be an eagerly awaited and well deserved paycheck each month was now replaced by bills, for utilities, materials and such, which was new and that I now had to contend with. As much joy, fulfilment, pride, rush etc...I derive doing what I am doing, I wholesomely concede and subscribe to the reality and practicality of and my need and constant struggle for the legal tender. That in itself is resolve enough for me... as much as my strengths lie in my dedication and discipline.Also I am absolutely determined in the pursuit of my dream and my ultimate desire to leave a legacy.

Its hard when your work is plagiarised, ( No I am not flattered by it at all ), when people renege on their purchase, when proceeds are not honoured, when your work is carelessly damaged whilst on display,when your prices are scoffed at...etc. It can be undeniably quite painful at times but whether it has to do with being on a learning curve, facing the wrath of competition and the likes.. .whats clear to me is that I like doing what I am doing, I am getting better at doing what I like doing and I want to be gaining acceptance for what I am doing.
And so I figure I might as well, in the meanwhile, show some style and I am going to keep on keeping on.

The Forest series

(Top) Winter (Right) Spring (Below) Summer

I derive perpectual inspiration from Nature. Its beauty never ceases to awe and fascinate me. My representations of the Forest revolves around the four Seasons. I have created several variations for each season in this series.

When I exhibited this work I realised then that I had not produced any piece depicting Autumn. Strangely no one made that observation. I subsequently completed the cycle - a single piece for 'Autumn' which is now part of my personal collection.

Emergence

Whilst continuing to dabble ... I have often produced work which leaves me so convinced that it would become my signature style. The Emergence is one such piece...and its probably going to be the only one of its kind in this style from me simply and sadly because I have not been able to produce anything quite like it satisfactorily and as effectively since.

On My Day Out series

(L) # 3 (C) # 6 (R) # 9

(L) # 12 (C) # 16 (R) # 20
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On My Day Out series

(L) # 32 (C) # 1 (R) # 33 (L) # 7 (C) # 23 (R) # 4
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On My Day Out series

(L) # 31 (C) # 35 (R) # 38

(L) # 41 (C) # 43 (R) # 44

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Waterfall series

This series was purpose created in monochrome using black oil pastel or acrylic paint on canvas as a pattern interrupt to all my work thus far so characterised by my use of multi ,bold and expressive colours.

A'sailing A'round Collection

Dance Collection

"Dance is the language of the Body and Soul"

- Martha Graham

Flora series Fauna series

(L) Flowers (C) Palms (R) Lily of the Valley

' Flowers '... a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all of the utilities of the world - Ralph Waldo Emerson
' Palms ' reminiscent of a hacienda and for a windowless corridor.
' Lily of the Valley ' Concentrate and you can hear the lillies ring sweetly like little bells.

(L) Tusker (C) Phrog (R) Leopard

' Tusker ' is intended as a raging bull kicking up a cloud of dust in its charge.
' Leopard ' has elements of realism combined with animation. Make no mistake its glare is as focused as it can get.

' Phrog ' was inspired by the extraordinary properties of the amphibian skin and ... kermit

The Embrace The Celebration

(L) The Embrace (C) The Year of the Rooster (R) The Celebration

Out of continuity to the ' I spy I see ' series I pursued working on the burlap medium (also known as gunny).' The Celebration ' was done in anticipation of the celebration of my nephews' 21st birthday. Its fun, its playful, its cheery,its colourful...everything a celebration should be. ' The Embrace ' is about the unique act us humans display our varietal emotions ... of happy , when sad, to comfort, in joy, for affection, when projecting respect, to shower love...

I think 'The Year of the Rooster' can also make a good design for a greeting card each Rooster lunar year.

I spy I see series

When I struck on the idea of using burlap as a medium I had only thought of being different. At least I had not heard of anyone using nor seen any work done on this material then. Naturally I was very excited at the prospect thinking I was being very original and also at the challenge I would be presented.

Little did I know what a challenge it would become. Sourcing for burlap was to become a long and ardous task.
As preparation I had the material hand washed clean and sun dried. When I went to my framers to have it stretched and mounted it was only out of favour for me that they agreed to do so. It was tedious work

Its dull colour and absorbent nature presented me more challenges - the colours I used were turning out completely wrong and paint would simply disappear or appear as a pale shade of what I intended when dry.

Also to use brushes on such a coarse and rough surface became a painstaking exercise. I eventually used lots of primer and coats of paint to manage and get the finish as I intended. The end results of the series have been satisfying and certainly worth all the effort.