John Monks artist study for self directed.

John Monks creates his paintings on large canvases. He focuses on interiors and everyday objects depicted in a way that they challenge the viewer to look anew at the familiar and common places.

Monks creates his textures by pouring the paint, glazing the surface in layers and scraping with a palette knife. He weaves and layers surfaces to imbue his subjects with a  built in history, implying atmosphere ,life and change in the seemingly inanimate and immutable objects and scenes. 

                                               Scardon2013, oil on canvas, 237 x 244 cm

                               Corridor2013, oil on canvas, 122 x 92 cm

                       Shaft of Light2013, oil on canvas, 47 x 56 cm

                             The Bed2013, oil on canvas, 166 x 227 cm

Because these paintings are life size it makes you feel as if you are in the space you are being presented with. He creates something intriguing out of something rather ordinary. I think this is because of the scale and the colour palette. There is an eery feeling to these paintings as it is a house but it is empty. No personal items, it appears to be abandoned.  It think this is an interesting approach as it appears very theatrical which is something I like , as it has a lot of atmosphere. 

Although they do appear very dark , the hints of colour keep it alive. This is something that I would like to do in my work. I would like to create paintings from my film of Baddesley Clinton making something more dramatic. Life sized paintings. 

Monks plays with light and shadow in his paintings which invites the viewer in to find the light source. 

He explores space.