50 Which Way Now?

The signpost was always going to be the final painting in this series. You always end a project with a sense of wondering what will you do next. Sure, there’s a massive sense of relief, pride and satisfaction to have finally reached your goal, but there’s also a sense of loss. For however long you have had a plan. Now the goal is behind you, it can feel like you’re lost. You can go anywhere, you are free to choose, but that choice can be scary. Crippling even.

The sign is in the Bull Ring on the High Street. If you know it, you may remember that the top sign points to the toilets. I decided to make it unclear for many reasons, not least because I didn’t like the implication. I see the sign as a metaphor for life and choice. Toilet seems to set the wrong tone, Yet here I am talking about it. Maybe, if it had been the lowest one I’d have made it clearer. So it’s vague and you can complete the destination with whatever you desire. Where would you want it to indicate?

There’s a limited palette of pale indigo, Prussian Blue and nut brown with black. A few tiny spots of iridescent blue and dark red break the monotony, but it’s mostly done with texture. Frenetic ink applies in waves. The formal structure of the signpost outlined in white contrasting with the chaotic paint and ink washes which merge and mingle giving a fluid effect on solid stone.