Michelle Milburn

Exhibition in the gallery

26th February - 21st April 2009

'Journeys'

          'Through dark and light'                           'Treading lightly'

This exhibition centres on the theme of Journeys.  Everyone is on a journey of some kind whether it involves self discovery, career, family, materiality whatever, some people may never realise the journey they are on, others are continually aware of their path.  These paintings represent the idea of Journey.  You can walk into the space, find your way round, feel the atmosphere and perhaps after a while move beyond the picture plane into your own space.  I always have to know what is at the end of the path, where the staircase leads to where that slightly open door goes, call it nosiness if you like, but it’s a deep seated fascination of having to know.

My working process is methodical and structured, the staring point being an image that resonates. To paint a canvas I begin with a fairly detailed drawing on triple primed hand made bespoke canvas.  Following this I ink in the drawing, it's this point that I know whether a piece of work has real potential, if the depth and resonance are there then the pace picks up.  After this stage I use acrylic inks and paint mixed to create the blends of colours that set the final piece.  I often use complimentary colours to turn up the heat, but they are tempered with something subtle in between for example I may use orange and purple, quite brightly in a piece, but the effect will be tempered with various shades of red in between so the pieces of the image becomes a whole.

It's a bit like Alchemy; accidents occur along the way, but often they are hidden gold! 

I have a special affinity with abbeys and cathedrals, not because of some divine connection, but because so many people have made them part of their journey, even the stone they are built from has been on a journey.  They are awesome, breathtaking places and were built to encompass the light, the architecture just sings when a shaft of sunlight hits it.

Sometimes the atmosphere of a garden or woodland may strike me, a ray of late afternoon sunshine filtered through new leaves, illuminating the way ahead; emerging from a dusty atmospheric alleyway, past old doors paint peeling, to view the bustle of a market town beyond, it all has a fascination, is all waiting to be captured, that fleeting moment that becomes mine forever.

I regularly exhibit my work up and down the UK with work having been published by Medici as greeting cards.  My work is in private and corporate collections around the world and is exhibited at London's Affordable Art Fair.  Visitors to the studio are most welcome, but please arrange an appointment in advance.  More information and work can be seen on my website at www.michellemilburn.co.uk.