Ridleyfineart
About Myself and Northern Grit
Hi, and thank you for looking at my website.
I am a North Eastern artist painting in acrylics on textured backgrounds. Over the years I have dabbled in various painting subjects and styles and after a maze of twists and turns I have finally reached this textured place.
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Working over a textured background allows me the creative freedom (most of the time) to let the brush flow, not having to paint every single grain of sand while at the same time creating a feeling of actually being there in the moment of the subject, often using many glazes of paint, each getting ever more subtle.
Speaking of the subject matter, the reason for these back street scenes (and more) is simple, it's a reflection of life as it is. Take out the fantasy, the glitz and glam and there is a raw undercurrent of reality all around us. This, in turn can often have a savage beauty and often emotionally painful but the colours, tones, form and much more are all there and often ignored and easily walked on by.
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As previously mentioned I have dabbled in a myriad of painting genres, but none have ticked so many boxes to satisfy my needs.
One of these needs is to present the life I know and see every day. Life as it really is behind the curtain. Having said that, I often play about with angles, perspective, lighting or whatever if it helps my cause in getting the effect I am aiming toward. I work from photographs which greatly helps me with this, the camera having a central focal point bends lines every which way. I can then choose to go with this or move them to my choosing. I guess in this sense there is an element of unreality to these paintings, but my goal is always to capture the spirit of the scene I am working on. Everything is intentional and if I enhance or subdue a shadow, play about with colour or perspective then so be it. ​​​​​​
The overall goal:- If a viewer sits lost in my paintings (as I did as a teenager in front of Rembrandt) immersed as I am, then I am truly honoured.
Self-portrait, back at college in the 1970's without the afghan coat. Hmm, I'm left handed, not right handed as in the painting, I must have used two mirrors.
and me these days, without the long hair, flared jeans and wide lapels. Ah well, they were good times.
I have to admit I prefer not to title each piece individually (I used to but I now prefer the image to do the work). A title can force the viewer to be biased and that isn't the intention. Let the painting wash over you and do its job. But 'Northern grit' does feel a good overall title.
The word grit was used as the images do tend to look gritty and it has took a lifetime of grit to survive this far. And of course the textures I paint on do include Northern sand, grit, whatever.
I love working on these texture paintings. While on the one hand they have the challenge I need to keep working as did my earlier works, they also have the freedom for creativity and expression.
I am in control. Emptiness is intentional, the loneliness, the desolation. The painting is an illusion; the reality I create.
At the end of the day, it's all Payne's grey.
Many thanks, Rob Ridley.
My wonderful lady and I.