Becoming an artist was not so much a conscious decision for me but more a consequence of work experience, time and circumstances.
As a child I loved drawing but of course had no thoughts of a career in art at that stage of life. I was, however, encouraged by my art teachers and did consider going on to art college at secondary school but coming from a working class family I had to start work at sixteen.
My father found me a job as an apprentice engineer and after three years on the workshop floor my employers recognised my artistic ability and transferred me to the drawing office where, after a short time, I became a design and detail draughtsman. Although I used a drawing board and technical instruments to create working drawings, I also enhanced the work with freehand illustrations giving me the opportunity to improve my drawing skills.
I made a dramatic career change in my mid-twenties and entered the world of financial services for 20 years. During this period I found the time to continue to draw and still had the desire to return to an artistic career. I attended evening art classes and a basic graphic design course then approached various businesses and eventually found a position as a graphic designer – although on half my previous salary. In 2005 I decided to concentrate on my art. I then designed and launched my own website and became a self-employed artist.
I moved to Bristol from Sussex in 2011. I had visited the City on numerous occasions as my youngest son attended the university here. I just fell in love with the history, architecture, scenery, art and music culture and friendliness of it's residents every time I visited, and decided it was the place in which to live.
As a relative newcomer to Bristol, much of my art was influenced by it's heritage and with capturing it's scenes. My advice to any newcomer to Bristol is to view the City from as many high vantage points as possible - Bristol is "very hilly" so has many. The Cabot Tower, Wills Building (University) and Clifton Suspension Bridge are three "musts". Then walk around the Harbourside area to soak up the atmosphere. I lived there for a few years before moving to Clifton and loved it. The City of Bristol has so much to offer anyone who visits or lives here.
Bristol is well known for it's street art and Banksy! However, there are also many other artists and illustrators working hard from their homes or studios in Bristol, some small and others larger such as Spike Island, BV Studios, Jamaica Street Artists and The Island. The art market is therefore a very competitive one. Despite this competitive market, there is still an amazing friendliness and willingness between artists to help and share with one another. This is especially so within studios and art trails.
All of my paintings are oils, although I do draw as well. I have also experimented with watercolour and acrylics, but I find the nature of oil, its consistency and slow drying, far more suited to my style of painting which is deliberate and careful. I love the feel of working with oils and the depth of colour achieved.
Without doubt, the style of my work has been influenced by previous careers. I had always been required to work accurately and representationally and, as a consequence, even my abstract works have a tendency to be tight and controlled.
With my representational work I use photographs and grids to be as true as possible to the original subject. I usually paint on pre-primed canvases, but sometimes prefer to use board for smaller works.
I start by marking out the grid, draw in pencil, overdraw with pen, erase the pencil, cover with white oil paint to knock-back the pen, allow to dry and then proceed to paint. Blocking in the darkest colours first to create the initial contrast, I sometimes work purely with shades of grey to achieve the overall contrasts before adding colour and/or colour glazes.
The composition often makes the difference between a sale or no sale, so the photographs are cropped to create the desired layout before any painting even commences. Sometimes colours are varied or elements changed to add emphasis.
I love the creation process. Starting with a blank canvas, deciding on a subject, working with the paint and colours and producing something that people enjoy. If it’s a representational work I paint it to the best of my ability. If it’s an abstract I concentrate on colour and impact. I always aim for beauty in my work.
I sometimes work from sketches, but rarely en plein air as this style is more suited to artists who work quickly and loosely with quicker drying materials.
Knowing when to stop painting and setting the sale price is sometimes difficult. I am not only trying to produce a work that pleases me and of a sufficient standard to market, but also aim to sell the finished product at a realistic price for the work and hours involved. We artists obviously need to exhibit our work and the cost of exhibitions also has to be taken into consideration.
I love the freedom to paint what and when I want, the rewards from the creation process and encouragement from resultant sales.
My work can be seen in my studio (by appointment) and occasionally at various venues around Bristol.
About my ABSTRACTS
Skyscapes, landscapes and seascapes abstractly represented by colour planes of brushed out oils. Some sombre, some vivid, but each minimalist. Inspired by the works of Mark Rothko, Ad Reinhardt, Barnett Newman, and Jackson Pollock.
The paintings can consist of up to seven layers (glazes) of oil paint, each brushed out to a fine finish and allowed to dry before the next layer is applied, thus increasing the depth and strength of colour.
I have attempted to developed a style of my own that brings accessibility and affordability to many art collectors who would otherwise find it impossible to accommodate much larger and more expensive works in this style.
There are over 70 of my abstract works available on my website, and many have been shown at locations throughout Sussex and Hampshire, and on selective websites. Some have also been exhibited by the European network of Little Van Gogh. Little Van Gogh has offices in Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany and Italy as well as in the UK. The network selects paintings from a range of artists, which are then leased to corporate bodies who exhibit them in their office spaces. Their aim is to promote art in the workspace, brighten up the office spaces and provide the artists with much valued exposure.
A small selection can also be found (under my alias of Joey Romero) on the Saatchi Gallery website...https://www.saatchiart.com/account/artworks/27149
Each of the paintings can be purchased individually. Alternatively, each full series is available at a discounted price.
Commission enquiries are welcomed, so if you like the style, but would like a bespoke colour or size to complement your interior design, then please let me know.
MIKE ROME
Email: mike@mikerome.co.uk
Web: www.mikerome.co.uk
Mobile: 0774 501 6174
As a child I loved drawing but of course had no thoughts of a career in art at that stage of life. I was, however, encouraged by my art teachers and did consider going on to art college at secondary school but coming from a working class family I had to start work at sixteen.
My father found me a job as an apprentice engineer and after three years on the workshop floor my employers recognised my artistic ability and transferred me to the drawing office where, after a short time, I became a design and detail draughtsman. Although I used a drawing board and technical instruments to create working drawings, I also enhanced the work with freehand illustrations giving me the opportunity to improve my drawing skills.
I made a dramatic career change in my mid-twenties and entered the world of financial services for 20 years. During this period I found the time to continue to draw and still had the desire to return to an artistic career. I attended evening art classes and a basic graphic design course then approached various businesses and eventually found a position as a graphic designer – although on half my previous salary. In 2005 I decided to concentrate on my art. I then designed and launched my own website and became a self-employed artist.
I moved to Bristol from Sussex in 2011. I had visited the City on numerous occasions as my youngest son attended the university here. I just fell in love with the history, architecture, scenery, art and music culture and friendliness of it's residents every time I visited, and decided it was the place in which to live.
As a relative newcomer to Bristol, much of my art was influenced by it's heritage and with capturing it's scenes. My advice to any newcomer to Bristol is to view the City from as many high vantage points as possible - Bristol is "very hilly" so has many. The Cabot Tower, Wills Building (University) and Clifton Suspension Bridge are three "musts". Then walk around the Harbourside area to soak up the atmosphere. I lived there for a few years before moving to Clifton and loved it. The City of Bristol has so much to offer anyone who visits or lives here.
Bristol is well known for it's street art and Banksy! However, there are also many other artists and illustrators working hard from their homes or studios in Bristol, some small and others larger such as Spike Island, BV Studios, Jamaica Street Artists and The Island. The art market is therefore a very competitive one. Despite this competitive market, there is still an amazing friendliness and willingness between artists to help and share with one another. This is especially so within studios and art trails.
All of my paintings are oils, although I do draw as well. I have also experimented with watercolour and acrylics, but I find the nature of oil, its consistency and slow drying, far more suited to my style of painting which is deliberate and careful. I love the feel of working with oils and the depth of colour achieved.
Without doubt, the style of my work has been influenced by previous careers. I had always been required to work accurately and representationally and, as a consequence, even my abstract works have a tendency to be tight and controlled.
With my representational work I use photographs and grids to be as true as possible to the original subject. I usually paint on pre-primed canvases, but sometimes prefer to use board for smaller works.
I start by marking out the grid, draw in pencil, overdraw with pen, erase the pencil, cover with white oil paint to knock-back the pen, allow to dry and then proceed to paint. Blocking in the darkest colours first to create the initial contrast, I sometimes work purely with shades of grey to achieve the overall contrasts before adding colour and/or colour glazes.
The composition often makes the difference between a sale or no sale, so the photographs are cropped to create the desired layout before any painting even commences. Sometimes colours are varied or elements changed to add emphasis.
I love the creation process. Starting with a blank canvas, deciding on a subject, working with the paint and colours and producing something that people enjoy. If it’s a representational work I paint it to the best of my ability. If it’s an abstract I concentrate on colour and impact. I always aim for beauty in my work.
I sometimes work from sketches, but rarely en plein air as this style is more suited to artists who work quickly and loosely with quicker drying materials.
Knowing when to stop painting and setting the sale price is sometimes difficult. I am not only trying to produce a work that pleases me and of a sufficient standard to market, but also aim to sell the finished product at a realistic price for the work and hours involved. We artists obviously need to exhibit our work and the cost of exhibitions also has to be taken into consideration.
I love the freedom to paint what and when I want, the rewards from the creation process and encouragement from resultant sales.
My work can be seen in my studio (by appointment) and occasionally at various venues around Bristol.
About my ABSTRACTS
Skyscapes, landscapes and seascapes abstractly represented by colour planes of brushed out oils. Some sombre, some vivid, but each minimalist. Inspired by the works of Mark Rothko, Ad Reinhardt, Barnett Newman, and Jackson Pollock.
The paintings can consist of up to seven layers (glazes) of oil paint, each brushed out to a fine finish and allowed to dry before the next layer is applied, thus increasing the depth and strength of colour.
I have attempted to developed a style of my own that brings accessibility and affordability to many art collectors who would otherwise find it impossible to accommodate much larger and more expensive works in this style.
There are over 70 of my abstract works available on my website, and many have been shown at locations throughout Sussex and Hampshire, and on selective websites. Some have also been exhibited by the European network of Little Van Gogh. Little Van Gogh has offices in Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Germany and Italy as well as in the UK. The network selects paintings from a range of artists, which are then leased to corporate bodies who exhibit them in their office spaces. Their aim is to promote art in the workspace, brighten up the office spaces and provide the artists with much valued exposure.
A small selection can also be found (under my alias of Joey Romero) on the Saatchi Gallery website...https://www.saatchiart.com/account/artworks/27149
Each of the paintings can be purchased individually. Alternatively, each full series is available at a discounted price.
Commission enquiries are welcomed, so if you like the style, but would like a bespoke colour or size to complement your interior design, then please let me know.
MIKE ROME
Email: mike@mikerome.co.uk
Web: www.mikerome.co.uk
Mobile: 0774 501 6174
