Ben Meredith Paintings/Drawings

Paintings for final MFA show in September.

2011-07-19T10:28:00.000-07:00

Not posted for some time. This is largely to do with the fact that I had attempted to abandon certain working methods coupled with a horrible creative block that lasted several weeks. My attempt was to rid my practice of digital photography as both a stating point and one of continued reference. I tried to work solely from life. This led to some successful drawings and sketchbook work (long overdue) but after some considerable time out of my home studio I returned once again to the photograph - it just works for me at the moment. Yes photos have limitations: they lack all the nuanced visual information you get from looking at things around you, yes they are distorted and washed out.....but I have a process that works and I need to make things. My process is always a challenge there are no guarantees or short cuts, each painting seems to take longer than the last. I continue to look at photos and look at life. I hope I can produce an image that reflects how I see my environment as it falls away slowly around me.

Let me know what you think....thanks for looking.

Work in progress 'Coloured lines'

2010-10-18T12:12:00.000-07:00

Started this today, I currently have four paintings I am trying to resolve.

The grey stripes are actually gaffa tape; using it to mask out areas.

I have these images in my head: figures fading away, disintegrating or suffering from a disturbance/shift. The idea of an image being revealed and concealed through my process and my paint still excites me.

It is tricky to push yourself while you feel you have so much still to learn.

Brown Painting (work in progress)

2010-10-10T08:22:00.000-07:00

Another painting (from what is turning out to be series of 'party' paintings).

This particular painting deals with one colour; in this case 'Van Dyke Brown'. I think I am going to have to add some other colours, as its staring to look like its all come out of the same tube. The brown is working at the moment; it has an aged quality recalling sepia tones. Will post another image if the painting survives. I tend to be painting over work I am unhappy with, and recycling it for the next piece.

Thanks for reading....as usual I welcome comments (excluding spam)

Group Show at The Millenium Centre

2010-09-07T08:07:00.000-07:00

I have my latest paintings on show at the moment as part of the UWIC MA/MFA Emerging Artists exhibition.

It was good to see the paintings in a large space outside of the studio. I will never get bored of watching how people stand and interact with the work; they have no idea that I am the artist that made them. A lecturer once said to me 'you only have a few seconds to capture someone's attention'. It doesn't seem a fair trade, three weeks of my life in exchange for ten seconds of yours.

Currently working on....

2010-08-16T07:53:00.000-07:00

Work in progress ''Party''

2010-07-12T08:23:00.000-07:00

I have found it very hard to get motivated recently.

I have gone through phases like this before; not feeling the need to make something or feeling very lazy. Its not nice and I hope that through getting back to work after a break I can retain some distance from my practice and entice something worthwhile from my hands.

This painting is the first for about five weeks, I am enjoying the application of paint which is so vital in what I do.

I may look for a new muse.

Worked into...

2010-05-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

After some more work...

2010-05-17T11:01:00.000-07:00

Work in progress ''Fractured Sleep'' 100 x 75cm

2010-05-17T03:59:00.000-07:00

After a succession of false starts and frustrations, I began to work a painting of Holly from these 'failed paintings'. This process can be painful: to make paintings that are weak or unsuccessful only to then remove/recycle them in order to produce something that is more layered and fresh as a result.

Painting is never easy and I would never want it to be, but sometimes I wish for a painting that has a beginning, middle and an end.

Updated from today...

2010-05-09T04:24:00.000-07:00

Updated from today...

2010-05-04T07:34:00.000-07:00

Work in progress ''Holly Chats Shop'' has evolved.

2010-05-04T01:22:00.000-07:00

I was never 100% happy with 'Holly Chats Shop'. Always feeling as if something was missing. Yesterday I painted out all of the areas of painting that did not work, I then imposed a frisky female and a new piece grew from there. I am working hard to keep areas from the original painting intact (the black and yellow polka dot). I have an urge to make my new work a little more sensual, to provoke the audience a little.

Will post the final painting here when its done, not sure when that will be. I have also included a close up as I have not posted so much recently. Thanks for reading, comments are welcome.

'Will' Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas, 100 x 70cm, 2010

2010-04-19T14:46:00.000-07:00

This is my latest painting, a commission for some friends. Will is one of my closest friends; it was nice to paint a face that I know well. From a technical point of view it was a significant challenge to balance the greens and flesh tones. As always I wanted to retain a fresh feel to the painting and a surface that invites the viewer to do a bit of work. On the whole quite happy.

Minna Killed the Care Bears

2010-03-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

I hope that this piece is now put to bed, finished, kaput etc. As you can see form my previous postings the finished piece is far removed from the initial idea. I never set out to make this painting (a portrait of Minna) The smaller element of landscape in the background has opened up some new doors to me, possibilities for future work. At the moment I am quite happy with this although a little surprised as it almost feels like someone else painted it.

Minna Killed the Care Bears (working title)

2010-03-09T03:13:00.000-08:00

Work in progress....

The Care Bears are dead!

2010-02-28T03:01:00.000-08:00

Having looked at the bears and having lived with the painting in my studio for a couple of days I decided the painting had to evolve. I painted them out (they still leave a trace on the canvas). By painting ontop I am already more excited about the possible outcome, or the 'journey' if you want to get all American about it.

I am taking pictures as I go so I will post in a week or two.....

'Please Care' Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas 122 x 122cm 2010

2010-02-17T11:01:00.000-08:00

'Please Care'. I was having a period where I very much wanted to paint something but was not sure what exactly. I have a Care Bears image in a file that has been sitting there for about 7 years, I have never been sure exactly what to do with it. So after attacking a canvas with paint for a few hours I overlaid the bears. I am happy with the result but as it is a return to the 'cartoon' it has confused me slightly, and altered the direction I thought I was travelling in....

This is the poster for the next show I will be involved in.

2010-02-06T10:16:00.001-08:00

Milkwood Closing/Opening

2010-01-16T03:48:00.000-08:00

My residency in the 'Basement Project' is officially over ( soon to be removed and painted over).

I am now showing new paintings upstairs for the next two weeks. Thanks to those who came to see the show. In this way it was a Closing and and Opening a bit like the New Year really...

Work in progress. ''Holly Chats Shop''.

2010-01-11T08:58:00.000-08:00

Working from a photograph again. Loved the original image but I am really trying to push it somewhere new. I am thinking about Allen Jones work as I paint this.

Taking parts of the clothes (pattern) and merging them with the face, the poker-dots are spreading off the hoodie and onto other areas like some mad paint virus.

New work from December (Alicia at the Beach - 2009. Acrylic on Canvas. 120 x 120cm)

2009-12-23T04:11:00.001-08:00

New work in progress - large painting

2009-12-21T02:31:00.000-08:00

Enjoying collage again. Really pushing this in my sketchbook and then transferring this into paint. After some horrendous starts I am quite pleased with this.

More fun @ Milkwood Gallery

2009-12-14T10:44:00.000-08:00

Doing some live Art in Le Pub in Newport this Saturday

2009-12-10T10:44:00.000-08:00

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14813875589#/event.php?eid=170676625204&ref=nf

Opening at Milkwood - in the basement

2009-12-05T03:34:00.000-08:00

Milkwood Art

2009-12-02T13:41:00.000-08:00

Artist in Residence

2009-12-01T14:33:00.000-08:00

Christmas Season @ milkwoodgallery, 41 Lochaber St , Roath , CF24 3LS

4th December 6 - 9pm.

Pop down for a glass of mulled wine and mince pie and view a selection of original affordable artworks; including ceramics, glass work, sculpture, jewellery and paintings and prints.

Exhibition is open every day until Christmas.

Milkwood's Basement Project continues throughout December

Artist in residence, Ben Meredith's project smile please:)is a mixture of drawings and paintings made specifically for, in and directly onto the walls of our basement. A unique opportunity to see a 'live art' event, visitors are invited to visit and engage with both the artist and the work. Ben will also regularly update his blog at
benmeredith.blogspot.com about the project.

Opening times Mon Sat 9.30 5.30 Sunday 11- 4pm late night shopping Thursday 10th & 17th December

Tel. 029 20473373

Web milkwoodgallery.com

'The Wall/Rip Wall'

2009-11-20T10:11:00.000-08:00

Making art outside for me is a new venture, as well as encouraging others to help create an evolving piece of art. I am curious to see how the wall moves on; how will others interact with my areas of painting and how will I react to this. 'The Wall/Rip Wall' becomes a metaphor for conversation, a visual melting pot to use a cliché.

Another drawing/painting (I cant quite make up my mind which it is)

2009-11-17T11:53:00.000-08:00

Acrylic, Pen, Pencil and Coffee on Paper.

Live Drawing @ Meze Lounge Newport with music from ANIMAL HOSPITAL - Boston USA.

2009-11-09T08:17:00.000-08:00

Samara (Reading). Acrylic, Pencil and Pen on Canvas. 100 x 100cm 2009

2009-10-26T07:43:00.000-07:00

Pretty sure that this is finished now. Its been completed in exactly two months, overall I am very pleased but I could probably fiddle with areas like the face or jeans for a while yet, I will resist this urge.

I have included some close up shots in this post so that you can see some of the finer detail; this painting is after all designed to invite the viewer in for a closer look. The lower half of the image seemingly breaks away and begins its gradual slide off the support. This was a concious decision as were the decisions to keep a lot of the dribbles and 'mistakes'.

Life drawings

2009-10-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been working at a local College helping with Life Drawing classes on a Monday afternoon. My main aim is to help the students make better more impressive drawings, challenge how they work and criticise wherever necessary. As there is only so much talking you can do in any lesson I use this spare time to produce my own drawings.

I hope for some of the students seeing me work alongside them will deliver an idea of what I expect whilst simultaneously demystifying the process.

The following work is achieved using acrylic ink and applied with a small stick.

Drawing Friends

2009-10-10T04:58:00.001-07:00

Artwork featured on Funky Dubby Fridays promotions

2009-09-27T04:12:00.000-07:00

New Drawings from Life

2009-09-20T01:02:00.000-07:00

Getting very interested by drawing people again, its beginning to drive my current work. I want to do a lot of more of this; sharpen my skill and speed in capturing likeness and form. A long term goal is to try and take my portraiture and figurative work forward somewhere new. Can it cohabit the same colourful, dripping abstract mess I enjoy creating so much? If I could successfully merge two conflicting languages it may lead to interesting clash of ides and surfaces, or It may just become too busy, clogged. The tricky part will be, as always solving this problem or 'breaking through the next wall'.

VersuS

2009-09-13T02:58:00.000-07:00

VersuS (live art) was 4th to 11th September 2009

A week long clash of styles utilising the unique character of tactileBOSCH Studios in Cardiff.

Ben Meredith and Dom Williams exploited tactileBOSCH as a studio/gallery space as they created artwork throughout the week. Visitors had the chance to witness the creation process and interact with the artists as well as contribute to the gallery space themselves.

Both artists share macabre undertones in their work, although Meredith's art usually features playful, energetic painterly figures and surfaces, whilst Williams’ work mixes traditional fantasy illustrations with the modern Japanese movement ‘Superflat’.

Holly (Red)

2009-09-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

Here is some new material I have produced, I am really enjoying playing around with figures again. The painting are becoming more traditional, maybe less subversive. Its still definitely retains my painterly sensibilities but I feel myself moving away from the more cartoon.

2009-08-12T04:24:00.001-07:00

A new painting called 'Beige'.

new work in progress....

2009-04-18T01:27:00.001-07:00

Here is a link to VersuS @ Tactile Bosch Cardiff July 10th 2009 (Facebook page).

2009-04-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/event.php?eid=62882609849
VersuS is an exhibition that combines Art with battle, a two man show with myself and Dom Williams.

Work possibly for VersuS show in July

2009-04-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

some assorted life drawings from 2008/2009....

2009-03-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

2009-03-04T05:58:00.000-08:00