Iain Faulkner, 1973 ~ British Style

Scottish Iain Faulkner's paintings are concerned with the portrayal of strong and powerful images relying on visual impact as there is rarely any narrative. They are about capturing calm and contemplative moments, intimate exchanges, solitude, sometimes melancholy, heightened in their resonance by the use of chiaroscuro.

Faulkner's use of this technique gives a stark contrast between the light source and the often dark tonality found in his paintings. There is a stillness in the everyday themes which conveys a sense of inner-reflection. This is accentuated by the formality of his young self-engrossed characters and emphasised by the light and shadows reinforcing their emotional detachment.
His charcoal drawings, included for the first time in a Faulkner show, are testament to his draughtsmanship; his awareness and acknowledgment of the prime importance of drawing and control of tone and to the peeling back of layers of paint thus revealing an insight into his creative process.