The Paintings of Simon Blackwood
Whether by a river, lake or the sea these places are perfect for contemplation where the sound and light refractions are the predominant inspiration to the senses.
A flowing river is the perfect paradym for meditation where focus and stillness is required. Each ripple ceaselessly demands attention making the contemplation of the whole transient and fleeting.
Each River or Burn in the Scottish Borders has its own language and as an American visitor to the studio observed, “ the sound is all consuming - it even blots out tinitus!”
From his studio in Istanbul during the 1980’s and 90’s Simon was able to watch the Bosphorus 24 hours a day with all it’s business and constantly changing light. Many paintings were born from this period, some verging on abstraction, but all attempting to capture a fleeting moment of beauty. Some of these fantastic light effects seem fanciful until you fall in love with this City and spend time there.
One of the first studies in the Istanbul series is the Blue Boat (thumbnail 4 in this series) which appeared in Country Life in the 1980’s. The artist was commissioned to visit the Chateau du Tourreaux in Provence on the strength of this (see Paintings 3).
Water remains a primary muse in Simons' work
A flowing river is the perfect paradym for meditation where focus and stillness is required. Each ripple ceaselessly demands attention making the contemplation of the whole transient and fleeting.
Each River or Burn in the Scottish Borders has its own language and as an American visitor to the studio observed, “ the sound is all consuming - it even blots out tinitus!”
From his studio in Istanbul during the 1980’s and 90’s Simon was able to watch the Bosphorus 24 hours a day with all it’s business and constantly changing light. Many paintings were born from this period, some verging on abstraction, but all attempting to capture a fleeting moment of beauty. Some of these fantastic light effects seem fanciful until you fall in love with this City and spend time there.
One of the first studies in the Istanbul series is the Blue Boat (thumbnail 4 in this series) which appeared in Country Life in the 1980’s. The artist was commissioned to visit the Chateau du Tourreaux in Provence on the strength of this (see Paintings 3).
Water remains a primary muse in Simons' work