It is my duty to protect
July 2007, 101x76cm, Acrylic on canvas
This painting started as recognisable figures, but the process transformed it into
a swirling mass of indistinguishable shapes. At the time of the initial design, I was thinking about
my new role as a father - a desire to protect, and uncertainty about bringing a new life into a world of
injustice, danger and conflict.
There was a gap of a few weeks before I came back to the painting.
It seemed a bit too literal, whilst not demonstrating the emotion it was supposed to capture.
As I continued, I remembered a quote from Pollock: "I choose to veil the imagery" which seemed appropriate to how the painting was progressing.