Martin Banks
My Inspiration
I am always drawn toward relationships between shapes and colors and the idea of some kind of visual order. I find inspiration for such subjects in microbiology or, alternatively, views of towns and places seen from above. Both are filled with abstract forms and have an organic aspect to them. I particularly find the way that the different forms co-exist in such images fascinating, especially when they occupy a small space and somehow have to accommodate one another. This aspect is central to my paintings. There is an underlying sense of movement as shapes squeeze together or overlap one another.
I try to capture this aspect in painterly terms, without seeking to reproduce any specific image, but rather to use the inherent visual information to create something new.
My Design Strategy
I work on a roughly square painted area set within a square canvas. The objective is always to bring the shapes, colors and tones into perfect harmony and balance. In this painting I created a rather strong, large, light area in the upper central left area of the canvas which then had to be balanced out by the angled shapes around it. I also created color passages and enhanced the linear aspect of the piece to create further interest. The idea is to entertain the eye by leading it around the canvas on a kind of voyage of discovery.
My Working Process
I start by painting a roughly square area in the middle of the canvas with a tonally different border around it. I then apply a series of crisscross lines of thick acrylic paint of different lengths and tones covering the entire inner painted area. I then begin to work into the spaces between the lines, developing color and tonal ideas. At this point, I’m getting the feel of the painting and developing a dialogue with it. As the painting develops, I start to use oil paint, applied with palette knives, as well as brushes, creating a variety of shapes which interact with the linear pattern. The process is very organic. I constantly paint and repaint passages multiple times until I have the right color, tone and shape balance.
Contact Details
Email: martinbanks@gmx.de
Website: martinbanksart.com