Under C

Andrew MacKellar
Paints in watercolour, oils, acrylics gauche and anything that comes to hand.
Land and seascapes have formed the majority of the work for many years.
More recent paintings are abstract in nature but still designed to have the feel of a natural environment, without being specifically representative, though using some in places.
The Artist has a fascination with the way in which many of the forms in nature when looked at closely contain similar structures which are aggregated to form a ‘whole’. The similarity is evident in the bark of a tree, similar for one type with a different similarity for another. These are seldom identical even within one species and collectively provide the infinite variety of nature and patterns with which we empathise far more than with a geometric perfection.
Ok so that is the idea. It derives from a limited understanding of some aspects of chaos mathematics whereby natural structures can be derived from repeated use of simple equations. The use of repetitive actions leads to immense variety, which with additional input can produce the feeling of the natural, be it place, narrative or object. This allows for a harmony between the painting and observer. Sometimes this really works!
Many other ideas are also worked on, the “idea” being the most important, so all this could change, but don’t think so for a while.
Influences are too many to do justice to, from the American sublime movement, Caspar David Friedrich, Richter, Pollock, Turner, to nature itself.