John O'Carroll British, b. 1958
The title ‘Energeia’ stems from ancient Greek referring to all underlying creative energy working from within, conscious and subconsciousness. Mass, light and kinetic energy flow easily across the surfaces of these paintings. Indigo is the dominant pigment with O‘Carroll’s trade mark silver, gold and copper leaf peeking through broad-brushed gesso layers. O‘Carroll’s use of deep indigo pigments in relation to and reflection of the the deep subconscious. The large powerful ‘Breakwater’ paintings have a release of energy, a breaking through, to new dynamics, the effect is pearlescent, as after heavy rain on a stormy sea.
John O'Carrolls work is built from impressions of the spaces through which he has traveled and lived with studios in Dakhleh Oaisis (Egypt) and Cornwall this allows him to explore a range of landscapes, both cultural and physical, with an emphasis on combining historical and contemporary painting techniques.