The Doorway Between Despair and Hope – How Art and Words are Used in Paintings

I often like to include words or music on my paintings. I often cut words out from magazines and newspapers I've read. When you look through my paintings, you’ll often see the odd word interspersed. I try to choose the words carefully to emphasise a feeling or an issue, such ‘Acts of love’ “your world " on the first wind turbine I painted. On ‘The plunge’ the words "passion, obsession, acceptance" reflected my feeling of swimming with my head in the ocean.

Today I felt inspired to continue painting a door inspired by a recent visit to Italy. I like doors as I feel they represent opportunity, hope of new things, and a sense of safety at times too. Sadly, doors can also be closed or slammed shut. People can be evicted and the door shut behind them; there can be uncertainty and fear surrounding this. 

I felt emotional painting this door and choosing the words. I started with many words and then selected just a few after much consideration.  The door I painted was an old door in an old building in a beautiful part of Northern coastal Italy. It was not in pristine condition, but it had a beauty about it. As I stuck the words on, some from recent headlines, the sport section, and the travel section. It’s ok to "transfer" to be "all aboard" …Sadly not to seek asylum. "Help" knocked at the door and the question "is anyone helping?" from outside is the question left hanging in space on the building. I wanted to highlight "everyone has a story", as I find it incredibly sad when the individual is lost in the headlines.

As an optimistic painter I felt the need to include some words in regard to despair that we can be left feeling at times.