Open Sky Painting

Kevin Stamper works in wood and wood veneers and uses form, colour and texture as the key elements of his work. He pushes the boundaries of what is normally achievable with the medium of solid wood and wood veneers, utilizing the nature of the material to add drama to his compositions. After a recent back injury, he has moved away from making the large furniture pieces he has become known for and now focusses on using his experience and craft skills to create abstract wall-hanging art pieces. The new work is an extension of his practice in furniture and is made to the same exacting standards but allows for a much greater degree of freedom and experimentation. “As a natural material, timber has an energy of its own and after years of trying to accommodate and control this force, I now relish the notion that the wood will twist, warp, split and crack of its own accord, creating new and dynamic shapes and textures. I give the work a starting point and a general direction in which to proceed, the material then takes over and finds its own path to completion.” He mainly works in two timber types, burr oak and plain sycamore. The burr oak is fumed with ammonia to give it a deep brown tone that makes it sometimes hard to identify on first sight; viewers have confused it with beaten steel and old leather amongst other things. The sycamore is hand-dyed using dyes that allow the natural grain patterns of the wood to shine through and add lightness to the composition when cut into squares and arranged in pixelated patterns. The juxtaposition of the deep brown oak and the brightly coloured sycamore squares creates a vivid landscape which the viewer can reflect upon and interpret in their own time. By its nature, the work is very tactile with undulating waves and contrasting textures in the rough open grained oak and the smooth polished sycamore inviting the viewer to touch and feel the warmth of the material. All pieces are finished with a very clear acrylic lacquer which protects the timber and helps to prevent the colours fading in sunlight.