Mike Connell Essex Artist

Since retiring after 40+ years of teaching art, I have at last found the time to paint with greater application than at any time, whilst enjoying the company of those wilful students with whom I had the good fortune to engage. My work since, has focussed largely on changing environments and my own reactions to them. The Thames barges, smacks and sailing, having been a large part of my life, and occupied most of my thoughts over the years. This has now given way to more shore based activity. Observation has always been at the forefront of all subject development, although water is never too far from my mind. My shell project is a typical example, where light passing through a bowl of freshly discarded mussel shells caught my eye. Once the initial painting and drawing had taken place, the media and structural complexities within, metamorphosed into the more abstract aspects of my compositions. My visits to Venice, withthe grandeur, history and romance of the city, and the close affiliation to water, made it a valued and favourite subject.

The fabulous buildings, reflections, the lure of the busy and the quiet waterways, the oldness of crumbling brickwork, the bridges and boats have so much appeal. The place is an artist’s dream! - from every reflection, façade and column.

I live in the quiet waterside village of Goldhanger, a place of flowers, old cottages and church bells, where we have a small art group that meets once a month on every second Thursday at 1.30 pm. This has also made its mark, as indeed has the sea, sand and sunshine of the Algarve, with the holiday beaches, which has dominated much of my painting. The figurative nature of my art led me to a revival in life drawing and painting.

Within my work, I verge on the abstract, as the emphasis of pattern, contrast and colour start to emerge. I often introduce geometric divisions within many of my paintings, not only to compound structure but also to emphasize form and shape. Occasionally I find a “breakthrough” into the more abstract forms of art. They develop from what you see, what you feel and how you interpret. I see images and hope, as an artist, to see beyond them. The great thing about all art is that the different elements and media can, and should, overtake the reality of the subject in hand, thus going beyond mere description. I try to find myself in my work, identifying with the things, which stir my imagination. As well as the many other artists both traditional and modern, I especially like the work of J.M.W. Turner, Graham Sutherland, Henry Moore, Paul Nash and Gustav Klimpt. In particular I admire the manner in which they express so much emotion, power and beauty within their paintings, as well as their use of media in all its diversity. Having taught art for many years the history, different genres and world cultures have all influenced and impacted on my own art.