This month we feature a stunning abstract painting entitled Axis. Inspired by the Cornish landscape, it was painted by leading contemporary artist Neil Canning in 2000. Executed in oil paint on canvas, the work measures 153 cm by 213 cm.

About the Painting

In this large abstract painting by Neil Canning, a burst of colours explodes from the darker area at the bottom left hand corner of the canvas – the ‘axis’.

The strong colourful strokes evoke the the heat and light experienced when you witness the rising Sun, with strong bright rays breaking through a horizon of moorland and sea, and lifting the spirit.

Very much an evocation of Cornwall, the colours range from a clear sea-blue, to a dusky heather and the grey and black of Cornish granite. This painting is very much about energy and dramatic elemental forces. It also looks beyond our traditional view of landscape and explores time, space and life force.

A subtle white brushstroke of paint leads the eye downwards on the right hand side of the painting, perhaps suggesting the direction of movement of the Sun on its axis, as the day progresses.

About the artist

Neil Canning is a leading contemporary British artist whose work appears in private, public and important corporate collections throughout the world.

His colour palette is wide, from bright colours inspired by the light reflected from the sea, to softer greys and earth colours.

In tune with the Cornish landscape, his artworks explore its hidden depths, lines and curves: the places where the sea meets the land, where the sky meets the horizon and where the sun and moon generate light. And his paintings are full of energy and movement.

In addition to his painting, printmaking has also been a very important part of Neil’s output. He has worked in the studio of Advanced Graphics London who publish his limited edition screenprints. It was here that he met and worked alongside artists such as, Albert Irvin, John Hoyland, Craigie Aitchison and Basil Beattie.

You can find out more about Neil Canning and see more of his work on his website here.

You can visit Neil Canning's current exhibition alongside painter Mark Surridge and filmmaker Rachael Jones at Falmouth Art Gallery. The show, called Chosen Terrain explores land and sea, looking at the extreme weather often experienced in Cornwall. Mark Surridge has also collected plastics from beaches and incorporated these into his paintings. The exhibition looks at different aspects of the environment and the effects of global warming. The two artists meet up regularly to walk through the landscape, especially the coast, which gives them the opportunity to absorb the environment, possibly noticing different aspects, and they also talk about their work. They have found it has really influenced their practise as painters; this was the starting point for this show. The exhibition Chosen Terrain runs until 13 April 2024. Find out more here.

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to Neil Canning for providing information and a photograph for this article.