Richard Rowan – Aurora Borealis

Inspired by his recent trip to Iceland, Aurora Borealis captures the breathtaking landscapes and magical glow of the ethereal Northern Lights.

Richard’s precise technique sees him employ a painstaking ‘back to front’ method for painting in oils on glass. The foreground of each picture is painted first, and is left to dry for up to two weeks before the next layer is applied.

Mesmerising, elusive and arguably one of nature’s most impressive displays, the Northern Lights have proved a worthy subject for this latest body of work.

My work uses a mix of everything I’ve learnt from drawing, design and screen printing to photography. The initial ideas for a painting will begin with the design taken from drawings and photos. The whole process is done back to front; the complete opposite of any normal painting on canvas. The foreground is painted first and in most cases this section of paint is left drying for up to a week before the next layer is applied. Many pieces of work are produced at one time, so it can be quite difficult to remember at which stage each painting is at. I apply different coats of paint with brushes, homemade tools, craft knives and my fingers to move the paint before and after the oil sets, creating all the types of effects I can before it’s fully dry. This makes for a different, but effective and unique view of oils and their vibrant colours.