Contemporary Fine Art @ The Piper Art Bar

DYLAN TRAINED AT GRAYS IN ABERDEEN

The academic or technical aspects of painting and drawing have always fascinated me. I have striven to challenge myself creatively by utilising methods and processes pioneered by masters such as Caravaggio and Zurburan. Techniques such as monochromatic underpainting, velatura, glazing and dry brush are modified to found working processes particular to each focus. The process of learning and the acquisition of knowledge in these areas is a fervent motivation. Each painting could be understood as an exercise in the mastery of technique. With the aid of life models I am able to explore my interests in anatomy. The poses are normally based around particular physical dynamics such has the torsion of a body, the tension in a muscle group or the weight of a limb. I attempt to deconstruct the inherent characteristics of a subject in order to represent them accurately and convincingly. The style of this work stems from my long held admiration of Baroque and Classical art. The strong chiaroscuro lighting of Caravaggio and the tactile dynamics of titians drapery have been of great influence to me. I have borrowed elements of these styles and married them with unusual and challenging poses more reminiscent of contemporary work. The juxtaposition of these contrasting approaches hopefully culminates in something that, whilst remaining progressive, pays homage to the fading notion of painting as a skillful craft. Solo exhibitions 2007 First London Solo Show, Gallery 27/The Gallery on Cork Street, Cork Street, London 2006 Solo show, The Carby Art Gallery, Aberdeen 2005 Solo show, The Carby Art Gallery, Aberdeen 2005 Solo show, The Queens Road Gallery, Aberdeen Group exhibitions 2006 The Power of Ten, The Leith Gallery, Edinburgh 2003 Aberdeen Artists Annual Exhibition, City Art Gallery, Aberdeen