My current areas of investigation involve the exploration of the crossover between drawing in painting, and the role of spontaneity, gesture and free and controlled mark making and where they meet and interact with rational thought. I’m exploring how lines in paintings become solid forms, and how mark making itself evolves within one painting or a series of paintings.

The intuitive paintings are informed and supported by a rigorous drawing and sketching practice. Extensive representational and abstract drawings from my surroundings and of the people around me, as well as ‘automatic’ drawing feed into the work in an organic way.

In particular I’m fascinated by the play and interaction between the intuitive subconscious, the gestural and spontaneous versus the rational, thoughtful conscious. It interests me how within one painting you can shift between these very different places.

Research and gaining a practical comprehension of various ancient and contemporary art practises and materials, colour and historic colour palettes, and their use in a contemporary way is an ongoing project.

As a Dublin based artist I show paintings in a number of Irish and UK art galleries. My current series of work involves painting in oil paint on very large, primed, unstretched canvas – either painting on the floor (as with the Aborigines, who inspired this series), or with the canvas on the wall. I’m working towards achieving a similar intensity and harmony in the very large works as can be found in my smaller pieces.

The concept of painting and creating as an experience for both the artist and viewer is an area I’m starting to explore through writing and photography. I’m doing this in the form of documentation of the process and surroundings of actually creating a painting, followed by the journey of the painting through its own stages of completion.

What can’t be verbalised are the paintings and drawings themselves and the unexpected explorations, discoveries and pleasures which I experience whilst making them and looking at them which is the reason I am an artist.

If you have any questions, or are interested in purchasing any of the paintings on my site you can get in touch via my contact email, smorshead@hotmail.com and website.