ABSTRACTIONIST PAINTER
CHRIS WEBB
Chris Webb is an abstractionist creating a unique expressive view of the coastal landscapes which he photographs on his wanders. His expressive inks and acrylic abstraction paintings shift away from the details to the overall impression of a scene.
The choice of palette you see in his monochrome paintings was a moment realised whilst out wandering on a foggy windless day with the sun trying to break through. The conditions that day made everywhere seemed higher in contrast and virtually black and white in tones. Bringing together his abstraction palette knife techniques and the use of a limited palette with thick abstract acrylic paint. His abstraction paintings are the result of years of experimentation and have become more than just a representation of a given scene. He sometimes paints the landscape in monochrome, then he will add just one extra colour. He finds this simplifies the scene and creates a mood that with too much colour would otherwise be dispelled. However, this certainly doesn't define his work as a whole. Fauvism has certainly influenced his work over the years, where the use of bold colours and fierce brush strokes or palette knife use are clearly identified in his paintings.
Chris has been losing much of his central vision in both eyes since 2010, due to an untreatable condition called chronic central serous retinopathy. His consultant surgeon opthalmologist registered Chris as legally partially sighted in 2016 and his eyesight has since continued to decline further. Determined to continue his artworks, he has adapted his art techniques gradually over the years. His style was transformed to reflect his loss of vision and informs his creativity every step of the way.
This year has been quite a breath of fresh air for him, whilst seeking new shores to exhibit his art. His engagement with exhibition themes, has led him to rise to the challenge on a broader range of subjects. With three international and five UK exhibitions in 2018, his engagement with a wider audience has grown considerably.
Thank you for reading about Chris' work and his art processes, you can contact him by filling out the form below.
You can also follow him on INSTAGRAM by clicking this link @chriswebbartist
or on his FACEBOOK page by clicking this link Chris Webb - Artist
2018 '(In)visible' Curated by Atramental at Espacio Gallery in City of London UK.
2018 'Ideal Destinations' Curated by ARTbound at Town Hall in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire UK.
2018 'The Dark Arts' at The Kings Theatre in Portsmouth UK.
2018 'Nostalgia' Curated by Art Number 23 at Municipal Gallery of Piraeus in City of Athens, Greece.
2018 'Bath Life' Summer Exhibition Curated by British Art Salon in City of Bath, Somerset UK.
2018 'Frame of Mind' at Emporium Bar in Portsmouth UK.
2018 'Nostalgia' Curated by Art Number 23 at Misc Arts Center in City of Timisoara, Romania.
2018 'Thresholds' Curated by Gonzo Unit in City of Thessaloniki, Greece.
2016 'Waterfront City' SOLO at Southscene in Portsmouth UK.
2016 'Minds are Worlds Apart' at Coastguard Studios in Portsmouth UK.
2015 'Under the Spotlight' at Coastguard Studios in Portsmouth UK.
2014 'Urban Perspective' at Island City Art in Portsmouth UK.