Toby Hazel

Primitive

Playing in the Woods

Aug 2010, 101x76cm, Acrylic on canvas

I recently discovered that there is an ancient rock carving in the woods a short walk from my house, and there is another one at Gardom's Edge nearby. This painting is inspired by these two rock carvings.

I took my son to the woods to see the first one, and we wandered around the clearings and paths, playing with sticks and clambering over tree trunks. The patterns on the rocks made me think of the paths and clearings in the woods, and I tried to encorporate this experience into my painting.

Angel and Rosette

Mar 2011, 61x51cm
Acrylic canvas

Tower Man

Jan 2010, 51x76cm
Acrylic on canvas

Settlement

Nov 2009, 76x76cm
Acrylic on box canvas

Two Dancing Figures

Sep 2009, 76x61cm
Acrylic on canvas

Leaping Warrior

Mar 2007, 61x51cm
Acrylic on canvas

Camp Fire

Mar 2007, 61x51cm
Acrylic on canvas

The Hunt

Apr 2007, 61x51cm
Acrylic on canvas

Possessions

Aug 2005, 80x50cm, Acrylic on paper

This painting shows a man presenting his possessions. To us, they are meaningless shapes; two sticks and five blobs, but the patterns inside indicate the detail that he sees. To him, these objects have meaning; they are important. The figure is depicted in the same way; he contains much detail that links him to his possessions. The detail in his case reflects his internal structure.

I think I wanted to suggest the idea that things only have meaning in their relationships to other things, including people.

Also, I wanted to give another view to the 'things you own end up owning you' perspective that anti-establishment types such as myself often advocate. Certainly people tend to attach too much importance to the acquisition of wealth and property, but in many cases, the material things a person owns and values indicates a lot about the person. There is an important link there; in attaching meaning to objects, a person is expressing something about themselves.

This painting won the Pinder Prize at the 2006 Great Sheffield Art Show.

Spirit Crossing

Dec 2009, 51x51cm
Acrylic on boxcanvas

Primal Event

Jan 2007, 51x61cm
Acrylic on canvas

Map of Dream World

Jun 2005, 31x41cm
Acrylic on board

Last update: 17-04-11

Copyright © 2003-2011 Toby Hazel