Image 1 of 4
Image 2 of 4
Image 3 of 4
Image 4 of 4
Text from my post about this painting on Instagram - link
A difficult night last night. I've wanted to paint Loxley Works on Kiln Street for quite some time and thought I'd give it a go. I wish I hadn't. This painting feels like it's more about what happened outside of the painting rather than what was in it.
A difficult night?... loads of boy racers gathered at the main works entrance I was hoping to paint but chose not to, so not to draw attention. Not a problem as such just, man, the noise! However, the area is known for drug drops and drug use, I should've thought more about this. This was bad; several guys (and it was all guys) were definitely using and spaced out, which technically was fine apart from 2 guys; one who I assume was a supplier and another very definitely a user. They wouldn't leave me alone and I was definitely being checked out for what I had. Thankfully Nige was there too, so together we soon "suggested politely" they moved on. But yeah, won't be painting here at night any time soon.
Think all of the above tensions shows in my painting.
There is a huge conversation about me being a white male of a certain age and class painting in this place that I don't think other folks, outside of these labels, would comfortably be ok to paint in. I know I am able to access places and spaces that others simply would not. I'm intrigued as to what you think, is there truth in what I say? Do you have any experiences that underline or undermine what I've just said?
