THE BRUSHED MARK.studio

In May 2014, I participated in It Is What It Is, the First Year Fine Art Exhibition at Coventry University. The exhibition brought together a diverse range of student work exploring materials, process, observation, and personal approaches to contemporary painting and making.

For this exhibition, I presented a series of expressive animal studies developed through experimentation with acrylic paint, gesture, and mark-making. Working on a large scale, I explored the energy, movement, and character of animals through loose brushwork, layered colour, and intuitive responses to photographic/collage reference material.

One of the featured works, The Animal, focused on the expressive possibilities of paint itself. Rather than aiming for photographic realism, I was interested in capturing presence, emotion, and instinct through spontaneous marks and a physical approach to painting. The project marked an important stage in my artistic development, helping me gain confidence in working on a larger scale and embracing a more intuitive and expressive visual language.

Looking back, this body of work reflects my early fascination with the natural world and the emotional power of painting, interests that continue to influence my practice today, albeit in different forms and subject matter.

The exhibition also provided my first experience of presenting work within a university gallery environment and engaging with public audiences as an emerging artist.

Exhibition: It Is What It Is – First Year Fine Art Exhibition
Venue: Graham Sutherland Building, Coventry University
Year: 2014
Medium: Acrylic on paper and canvas
Themes: Animal Studies, Expression, Gesture, Observation, Process