VERSATILITY MAYBE THE KEY

Natures' Solace (L) Footloose Fancy Free (Centre) Ol' Friends (R)

Perhaps versatility would be the key for me as a budding artist I thought . I would give myself the liberty to try my hand at 'a bit of this and a bit of that' and then discover what I was better at, what I felt comfortable with and realize the kind of work I truly enjoyed producing even if I already had my preference.

So I tried my hand at some work emulating the likes of Monet and fashioning my work adding brush strokes and improvising along the styles and techniques of other reknowned artists the likes of Rembrandt, Matisse, even Van Gogh. I just had to do all that if only for myself - not in a self indulgent way and certainly not to challenge these legends but to give myself a bearing of my ability, capability and a gauge to realizing my potential .

Experimenting with all types of work did lead me to choosing and sticking with 2 mediums for a start. I was using acrylic paints on canvas for most of my work now. Some of my work turned out reasonably well adding to my confidence and resolve to not only create but produce new work consistently be it abstract or impressionist or otherwise. It certainly was becoming rather thrilling,liberating and exhilarating

The Confluence

a scaled representation to enable the fathoming
of the power,the ferocity, the mass, the velocity
the volume,the tenacity...when the greats meet

The Procession

'all the kings' horses and all the kings' men'
the grandeur of then
the (in)significance of now
the longing for when
the hope for...again

Splash

the humbling of giant waves
hurling themselves against the cliffs and rocks
to explode...not in an enormous mass of splash and spray
but a spectra of colours as in a fireworks display

Sundown

the falling shadows

when a day is done

appearing otherwise

in this sleepy hollow

of a coastal town

GETTING THE GO GOING

On a clean slate I attempted all kinds of subjects...

fuana,flora,landscapes...anything and everything

at my whim and fancy. I knew what I wanted to

do and I wanted to do what I knew.

There was no reason I told myself to be restricted

and be dead serious...like they say...you only end

up more dead if anything else seriously.

I figured I'd create new work consistently in my

own way,perspective,time, try out styles and

have fun doing my thing.

Admittedly I have a preference for and my tendency and leanings

in rendering abstract work is undeniable.

I used watercolours on artpaper purely out of

familiarity with the media for my early work,some

of which is shown here.

EVERYTHING BEGINS WHEN YOU START

When I made an about turn from the corporate jungle to do what I wanted ,I wanted a change in my life and what better time than at the turn of the century.Sure it wasn't an overnight decision I had thought long and hard over much time.I had already designed my logo whilst still pursuing my MBA during lectures one day but I still went back to the corporate world upon graduating primarily because of the struggle for the legal tender and to re-establish business contacts.

What I wanted to do was to create.I was determined to make my mark Leave a tangible legacy.I couldn't see that ever happening as a corporate employee. See I loved the arts and painted as a past time played the piano and guitar too but which I had to completely abandon out of lack of time since I joined the rat race

On a deserved long vacation I started painting again.My first piece was entitled "No Turning Back". I am committed and determined by nature but sometimes dramatics help emphasize and provide that extra push like I told myself when I decided to change my life "I need to do what I like before I die" The same way that I decided I would graduate my MBA program - with 2 necessary elements - Discipline and Commitment.I had simplified Discipline as spending no less than 3 hours daily on my studies.The Commitment part was automated...soon as I wrote out the cheque for the fees. "No Turning Back" signified my start in art as a profession.

I finished 68 paintings during that extended break and held my 1st solo outing which was showcased by the Sheraton Hotel and attained reasonable success for an unknown who pulled it off single handedly.It wasn't an ego booster as it may sound but it provided me the positive dramatic push to pursue my passion.This was the beginning of what I had started