Concept & Creative Development
I develop my ideas through research, sketching and experimentation. Most never reach the canvas; knowing which to pursue — and which to abandon — is fundamental to the process.
The strongest ideas are developed through design software, refining the composition until it feels resolved.
Creating simplicity can be extraordinarily complex. Each image must be distilled into solid shapes and separate colour layers without losing its character.
Stencil Engineering
My work ranges from single stencils to complex pieces involving ten or more layers. Each must be engineered for cutting, without compromising the image.
Scale adds another challenge. I don’t work to a fixed format; the composition determines the canvas. Works typically range from 60 cm square to a metre or more.
A single artwork can involve dozens of components, each machine-cut, hand-trimmed and assembled before painting begins.
Painting
Before painting can begin, each stencil must be precisely registered and carefully masked to prevent bleed, overspray and contamination. Colours often require multiple passes, and each layer must be allowed to dry fully before the next is applied. This can take several days.
Safety and discipline are equally important, with respiratory protection, ventilation and dedicated preparation, painting and drying areas forming part of the studio work flow.
The Reveal & Finish
Removing the final stencil is the most rewarding moment of the process — the first time the finished artwork is revealed and weeks of work finally come together.
Finishing is equally considered. Where the materials allow, pieces are varnished to intensify colour, control reflection and protect the finished artwork.
Once fully cured, each piece is signed, authenticated and labelled, then carefully protected and stored ready for its eventual owner.
The process is as much a part of the artwork as the story it tells.
