PETER GOODHALL art – Circle Foundation for the Arts

What themes does your work involve?

A visual comment on the beauty of the natural environment that is the sea. Whether it be focusing on how the light falls on the water or how the patterns and the reflections are distorted by movement in the water. Closely observed and frequently meticulously painted to create a strong degree of realism. My work will also frequently involve an additional subject in the water, for instance, the female nude swimming that allows more play on the interesting shapes and distortions.

Describe your creative process.

I have a vision of how I want a painting to look and I go about sourcing all of the information that I need to create that image. I do have my own extensive library of photographs that I have taken over many years. A painting will never be the recreation of a single photograph. I paint using professional-grade oils on fine grain oil primed linen canvas, often on a large scale that enables me to meticulously blend and glaze to create very smooth but fluid-like surfaces to my paintings.

What influences your work? What inspires you?

Nature and observation influence my work and I'm inspired by my desire to portray the natural environment at its most interesting or intriguing. The international multiple award-winning Liberty Series where I have combined my love of the sea with the beauty and charm of the female figure continue to inspire me. I'm always looking for ways to expand these themes. I've been around boats all of my life too and enjoy depicting the relationships between boats and water.

What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?

Art can be technically good but to make it great it must resonate in so many other ways to become appealing to others. Consequently, a successful artist has to work on many levels.

What is the role of the artist today?

I'm an artist because I wanted to be an artist because that's a way that I feel I can communicate. I want to share the things that I find interesting and often beautiful. Which is really just one level about making a statement and artists will make statements about so many things.