Chris Oddie

As an artist, I would say my work is expressionistic, and an essential component of my practice is that as a draughtsman observation is fundamental to my work. Generally, I prefer to work from life, I do not use preliminary sketches, each drawing or painting stands as a finished piece. My paintings do not necessary reflect the recognisable subject; my method is to work at speed, consciously and unconsciously responding to the subject by making an image of it, destroying that image, and remaking it exploiting shape, form, and colour until I feel the drawing/painting is complete. I use various media although my preference is oil as this medium lends itself to my method. I exploit the accidents that happen because I am working so quickly, and this enables me to produce an image that transcends the banality of the original object; by enlarging and transforming the objects, I open up the range of experiences they evoke.