He starts his painting with a subject vaguely lingering in the back of his mind. He lets it sit loosely, not allowing it to take over and guide his brush strokes. This painting he wants to be Jonah and the Whale, but he's not worked out the composition or where the figures will be, that's for the painting to decide.
There's something about the way my dad sees and experiences the world that becomes embedded in his art. A magic and wonderment which cannot be explained. His art seems to appear on the canvas by allowing the medium to guide his hand. His method takes patience and self discipline, watching and waiting for the painting to guide him to his next brush stroke.
How does he paint with so much depth, recognisable detail and emotion, without copying or referencing images in front of him? How does he shake off the chains restricting so many other artists? The breadth of his paintings are forever expanding, no rules, no cages, no limitations. However, there's one aspect where he must be constrained in order to allow the will of the painting to take over. He must hold back from importing what he thinks should be or wants to be, onto the canvas, the medium must have the freedom to do what it chooses.
My dad is artist Bob Booth, he shares his techniques with artists worldwide, see our website www.trinitypaintbox and let a new painting world be explored.
More info: trinitypaintbox.com
He makes many circular marks on the canvas that become fish like. He looks for their meaning so they can lead him to his next mark.
At first he doesn't know which dark patch is the fish or the boat, so he keeps carefully placing his marks, watching and waiting.
Gradually the subject begins to emerge, he sees the fish but holds back from importing his ideas on what the fish should look like.
He continues to put the paint where the painting asks not where he thinks it should go. Somehow, the painting gets it right, it asks him to put his marks where the fish and boat can appear, and allows the rough sea to come alive.
He sits back satisfied with the result but also knows the credit isn’t for him to take alone.