David Flaherty

Education    

BA (Hons) Fine Art, Leeds Metropolitan University.
Foundation Diploma, Wakefield College of Art. 

Exhibitions  

2009
Leeds City Art Gallery, Open Exhibition.
Doncaster Art Gallery, Open Exhibition
Clock Tower Winter Exhibition, Sheffield.

Artists Statement

A major influence on my work is the asethetic of the Modernist period and mainly that of its architecture. This can range from a well documented and celebrated structure such as ‘Balfron Towers’ in East London – to the design elements found in many of the buildings in every town or city- civic centres, libraries, colleges, schools and housing.

I spend vast amounts of time walking around places, photographing buildings, making sketches and studying the colours, textures and materials of these buidlings.I consider their asethetic and the philosophy on which they were built, taking note of  details such as colourful friezes or linear relationships and overall balance.I often stand back from a building and study the shapes which make a whole. 

Making the work is a more instinctive process.  I produce my own supports, mainly being board and the shape and size can vary.  Once the board is primed, I work intuitively without any direct visual information to produce an informed but spontaneous image.  With this I try to capture the essence of a building or structure, this being on a personal level.  I often work quickly producing a painting, then find myself returning to it several times to change it until I am satisfied with the image. 

I like to experiment with a variety of materials including oil paints, acrylics, inks and various drawing items. This is something which I continue to develop. I also like to use different substances to mix with the paints to achieve interesting textures.The way I apply the medium is not always using the traditional method.  I will often use straight edged objects - such as pieces of wood – to produce a line or mark.    This then becomes like a printing process.