ABOUT & BIO
"Art is a beautiful and universal form of communication and expression and in my journey, using unique form and bold styles through works of art reflects my energy, spirit and vibe in life."
In his work British artist Carl Hodges engages and nurtures the mechanics of art to express human and spiritual aspects fo life. The use of bold colours, even straight from the tube, emblazons the canvas, standing out amongst the crowd, but also bringing a strong energy and vibe to any piece. Carl loves architecture, expressed through his acrylics and pallet knives/brush, especially focusing on his local city and the bottle kiln skylines from 'the old days' in contemporary paintings.
But at a deeper level, he feels there is a meaning for life. Our thoughts are just on the surface of our minds and that we are all engaged within energy and how energy is used to communicate between us. Through art, Carl engages all his own energy to create both digital, manipulated digital and real acrylic works, exposing the hidden, secretive and hugely influential energy fields we all possess.
More recently and merging into a new realm of creative freedom, an explosion of colour and energy is formed in Carl's work using layering techniques, forced drying and fluid acrylics. This style has progressed more recently into producing stunning sky images merging into landscapes of his home town of Stoke-on-Trent as well as energy works
Carl exhibits using solo exhibitions but also pop-up galleries and is a member of the Society of Staffordshire Artists).
He lives in Stoke-on-Trent with his beautiful wife Jayne.
CURRENT WORK
"At the moment I am working on local landscapes developing my technique using palette knives with acrylic layering on many subjects including bottle oven kilns used in the the old pottery industry. I like the method of applying different layers with heavy and light paints and also the challenge of applying two colours that retain their original colour whilst on one knife. This requires careful application and manipulation over time with the added dynamics of working over not just dry but also other wet layers to achieve the desired effect. This technique is now becoming a style and something I want to further develop and also expand onto other more abstract paintings. The results are very rewarding and the particular style of the above method where the old buildings and structures of the pottery industry decay into the skies with ghostly effect. Their original structural form is lost in time.
I hope you like the finished works."
ART CREATIVITY
Before any physical preparing of canvases, mixing paints or conceptualisation sketching my approach is best summed up by Pablo Picasso:
"Everything you can
imagine is real"
The imagination requires freedom. A freedom to capture thoughts, emotions, experiences and energy that are all so important to form into creative reality - for me this is in traditional painting and digital creations.
Past and current memories from all the senses can be used to spark creative ideas and as they begin to seed in the mind a short period of meditation allows further development to form my art.
ART PROCESS
Before any painting begins the general approach I adopt is personal to me and maybe not for be for everyone. The approach has been crafted from years of trail and error, trying many different styles of painting.
I can't paint one piece at a time - as mood plays a very important part of the painting process.
Right mood
Right results
This is why I normally have three or more - even ten different pieces on the go at any one time. If I need to express energetic spontaneity with quick mind and physical movements then focusing on an abstract piece is perfect with a bit of music playing in the background. If the mood is more thoughtful and placid then classical or meditative sound is suitable.
Simple really. I regularly perform and apply my own meditation techniques developed since I was 17 that allows universal freedom of energy to help form my works of art both before and during application.
“I dream my painting and I paint my dream.”
― Vincent Willem van Gogh