NUMBER 40-RAIN, RAIN and RUSH HOUR
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| Rain, Rain and Rush Hour, 24" x 20", Oil on Canvas, 2011 |
And finally at last, The 40th work that has made my career is this painting- I was inspired to take this one on because it was a had crowded figures, reflections and rain-three elements I really love in urbanscapes!
To really get into the mood of this piece I visited the venue at Cannon Street in the morning during the height of rush hour on a week day and the spirit of the whole place was just buzzing! You could see city workers all determined to get to work with their umbrellas, soaked and fizzing through the station to the streets adjacent to the station. I just stood their for almost 2 hours observing, making mental notes and taking loads of pictures, close to 700!
When I got back to the studio I had a hard time looking through to see the one that really resonated with my spirit! It was difficult to find the one that really had a balanced composition and a good focal point. I thought, if I didn't get the right one I would need to start editing the pictures to make it work. This process of selection is really part of the creative process, even before the main painting starts. Actually the painting starts when the idea and scene is viewed and conceived.
I painted this piece for the Affordable Art Fair last year at Battersea, and I was pleased that just before the exhibition started, a couple saw in on the the gallery website and showed so much interest but waited till they saw it in the flesh. Once they saw it in the flesh they fell in love and carted it away to Canada!
SPECIAL QUOTE
I find it hard to understand after all these years of painting, I still go through a struggle and the climbing of a great mountain of doubt, before I embark on a new painting-the worries, the fear, the procrastination......then everything dispels once the work begins..."-Adebanji Alade
I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed your forty paintings and the stories behind them!! I love your work and your passion,it shines through every piece you do.If you ever have this series printed I want the first copy of the first printing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Azra! That's encouraging! I hope I'll fulfill that!
ReplyDeleteHave really enjoyed your revisting of the works that have been so important in your career. Look forward to the next 40 :)
ReplyDeleteJennifer
Thanks Jennifer, I glad you enjoyed them!
ReplyDeleteBanji (*I hope it's okay that I call you that!), you are not only good at expressing yourself in your paintings and sketches but in your words as well. I have thoroughly enjoyed the pictures and stories behind each one. Thank you for sharing, you are truly gifted. Kind regards, Paula
ReplyDeletePaula-Yes! "Banji" is what most people call me but I use Adebanji on the internet.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words, I really appreciate this!
I've just been catching up with your last few blog post which as always have been interesting and inspiring. Thanks for taking the trouble to share your thoughts, techniques and experiences. I've followed your blog for over a year now and you initially inspired me to start writing one of my own which has been really patchy but I have managed a few posts recently but also realised how much it takes to just write one. Thanks also for all the links you've included which has opened up a whole world of art and artists I didn't know about.
ReplyDeleteThanks Paul, I am happy you are enjoying the blog! We are all here to share and help each other which is always a delightful experience!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for sharing it all, Adebanji!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Jon!
ReplyDelete