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History & BackgroundI have been painting all my life; having had no formal art training, I
am a self taught artist. I was first encouraged by my late father Mark
Proctor, who was a commercial artist. My father could sketch almost
anything very well and quickly; which always fascinated me, and I
wanted to be able do it to, so he showed me how.My first paintings (which I still have) were of birds, as I have always
had a big interest in Natural History. Aged nine I illustrated a little
book of my own that was “copied” from the British book of birds; which
was illustrated by my now favourite artist Raymond Harris Ching. I
suppose from the day I completed that little book I was hooked!My school days were spent day-dreaming; fly fishing and chasing girls
called Deborah! Not as part of the school curriculum but as part of my
own little learning curve. I used to wave goodbye to my mum in the
morning, ride off on my bike and promptly dump it at my pals house,
then jump the bus for a 25 mile ride out to the river Coquet at Felton
in Northumberland. My Dad would then run me up to the river and back in
his car at weekends not knowing that I had already spent the entire
week there, a bit of a villain I was!This time that I spent on the river had a massive influence on my life.
It seemed to slow things down for me and help me to think, help me see
the real quiet beauty of nature, thus encouraging me to draw and paint
it. I started painting the river then birds, dogs, horses, people and
town scenes of Newcastle Upon Tyne.During the 90’s I exhibited my paintings in London at the Tryon Gallery
and in the USA at the Klausner Cooperage Gallery. The past two years
have seen a return to full time painting for me, as I had previously
taken some time away from the obsessional painting routine I had fallen
into. I have returned to painting with a fresh new outlook. To combine
a life of “painting,” with our gorgeous young son “JACK” is just
unbelievable. It’s going to be nice to have Jack with me on this
journey with Washington Green and I am looking forward to it.Ideas & InspirationsI am a paint-o-holic; when I am not painting I am thinking about
painting. I have a restless energy and am constantly on the go.
Painting, drawing or studying for my future paintings usually occupies
my time.It’s not so much subject matter, but “actually painting” that inspires
me; to be recognized as someone who can paint well is the most
important thing to me.I find inspiration for my work all around me all the time, “like most
artists” I am constantly observing shape, light and colour. It is the
colours in reflected light, and the study of the effects that colours
have on each other that interests me most. Other artist’s work I admire
and who have inspired me are Raymond Harris Ching and the late Manfred
Shatz; as I think they have both painted the effects of light, shade,
and colour so well it takes my breath away.I have previously painted most subjects but have recently concentrated
on people again. Simple studies of everyday people doing everyday
things, the way a person walks or stands, sometimes just the shape of
some people fascinates me. I love to watch and paint them. I included
my son Jack in a recent painting (Footsteps) and that has led to more
and more paintings of him. He “like all young children” is beauty in
motion; a totally free spirit without the weight of the world upon him
yet. As we grow up life shows on us all, but kids are “truly natural”
and that’s what I want to show in the paintings of Jack, a lovely
little boy doing little boy things.From Palette to PictureMy Father told me, never draw a straight line and never draw a whole
line, always break them up when you sketch, and change the weight
applied to the pencil to make your marks interesting. What great advice
this was! I still sketch this way today, as it is very important to be
able to sketch with ease.I paint in oils, in daylight only. I start with a charcoal sketch;
concentrating mainly on balance and composition before I begin
painting. I always work with a very large mirror behind me and keep on
glancing over my shoulder to check things out from a different angle. I
work very quickly indeed and rapidly apply the paint. I use a
“strictly” limited palette and mix with care before painting. It is
bold, fast, confident brush work that makes things work for me, as once
I slow down and start picking at the work I know it is finished. Its on
these occasions, that I can hear my Father shouting “leave it alone.”I always listen to music as I paint. I listen to everything from rock
music to Rachmaninoff; and go through stages of working to certain
music, even individual songs. All of the Jack paintings to date have
been painted while listening to Tony Bennett...strange isn’t it!A day in the Life of...Our daily routine starts at 7am with ‘Tom and Jerry’ and toast. Jack
has just turned four and is now at nursery school in the mornings, and
as we live in quite a remote spot, his only play mates so far have been
his mum, dad and our dog Charlie so he loves to go to nursery.I start to paint at around 9am and usually work non-stop through lunch
and finish when the light has faded. During the light nights of summer
I stop painting at tea time then it’s usually games and a long walk in
the woods with Jack and Charlie.I go back into the studio in the evening to look at the days work with
my wife “Deb,” as she is honest in her opinion and gives Judgment with
a fresh eye. I then draw out for the following day and plan future
paintings.Don’t tell anyone but I like to do a spot of metal detecting when I get the chance!
