Bookshelf / TV image

Set dressing August 2010

Books / Magazines positioned to create the image that we all know so well

Making people happy

From this learining curve I have learnt lessons concerning composition, time managment and ambition.

However , I am itching to get back to creating the images that I really should be doing. I simply need to keep track of the time...

Sensation

Studies October 2010

An interesting development
Stain/ enamel / oil / PVA

Information left out is the strongest contribution to the compositions. Will be interesting to see how far I can push this concept.

Tinned Asparagus vs. Mandarinskins

Baker September 2010

From now on it's got to be a process of capturing the feeling, the emotion of the figure. Be this by the absence of features or the movement of the fabric. The composition and style of the brushstroke. I feel I must address the background just as intently as the foreground and increase my research to find artists with similar core beliefs and inspirations.

The Transision September 2010

A major turning point in September due to my smallest paintbrushes being taken off me. As a result I have been forced to speed up to produce more work, while being less concerned with perfection.

The most sucessful piece here is the finger pressed down on to the shaved skull. The exclusion of features and composition choice shows a rawness that hasn't been achieved until now.

This is the direction I should be taking. I can always return to my miniature figures, but for now that cannot be pushed any further.

Blackberry Billboard

Stills shot in Westmere August 2010

Great Studio
Plastered up in front of St Lukes

Thanks Grace

Slip Casting

Clay / Glaze

On show in the bin .
Everybody exhibits trash at some point. My turn was simply a little later in life.

Time Series: Family Portrait

Clay / Acrylic / Shellac / Glaze

Set on the Church Aisle.

Taken over a 30 year period at 5 year intervals.

Next showing: 2015

Bungalow 6

"Dolly and the Cow"

Oil and Stain on Cork board.
Each piece 20cm x 40cm

On show at Long Black Cafe 23.08.10 - 03.09.10

Christmas Musical 2009

Those wings filled my dreamspace for miles...

I got one weeks notice but amazingly 20 people chipped in to produce them! Thank you if you were one of the background angels.
The lighting designer did wonders...if only we had a second chance to make them again.

Now we've just got to figure out where to store them!

Emerging Artists Awards 2010

July 8th - August 1st

Waitakere Emerging Artists Awards 2010
Lopdell House, Upstairs Gallery

Top 20 Finalists: "Absolom"

Chapter Three: Sleights of Hand

Matthew McConnell's exhibition on at Object Space, 8 Ponsonby Road

July 9th - August 4th

These little fellas are fired clay, painted in oil by me.

Direct reference to artist George Condo.

http://www.objectspace.org.nz/programme/show.php?documentCode=2288

Go and check it out!

Prodical #1

This is the main painting that has taken up my head space for the last 3 months.

I'm open to suggestions for the writing on the plaque.

At this stage it's " Flippin' Heck. Where's Davey-Joe?"

Oil / Stain on Hardboard

Dimensions: 112 x 96 cm
Number 1 in a series of 6

Detail from Prodical #1

Work in Progress

The Process

There's no way my brain can constantly come up with these on it's own. Collage is a definite part of the process. I'm intrigued as to what will emerge next!
The flat backgrounds are successful in themselves.

Reference Images

Underworld 3 Concept Art

Those mosaics have to be the most fun I've ever had on set...Summer '08

Unless you count gazing at Mt Cook every lunchtime.

The Eye

I didn't consider early enough that 27% of New Zealand will have only one association with this image.

Only allowed myself a #3 paint brush...still took just as much time though. Go figure

Hand Studies

Hands have to be the hardest thing to pull off correctly...if I ever paint a perfect hand I'm sure it says in the rulebook that I will have to be diagnosed as mentally insane.

In the meantime, I shall use distracting techniques such as metalic backgrounds and other mutations to keep it ticking over.

Absolom

I want more happening along the lines of this...

There's something about the vulnerability portrayed that justifies a second glance. That weekend was a mindspace on it's own.

Dubby

I don't want to be perceived as irreverent or blasphemous in any way. I simply have a desire to find the quirky and grotesque in every situation. As a result there are examples of me taking the Bible very literally.

Flat in Hillsborough

These two pieces follow me everywhere.. I can't seem to lose them!

"Choeography in Oil" 2003.
It took two years to dry properly...I imagine it shall survive a nuclear war.

"Monet in motion" 2005
I am yet to walk around the courner to find the space where this painting truely belongs. That is the space where I belong.