Artists Statement
“As a painter, I am influence firstly by the quality of mind generated from meditation, rather than anyexternal sensory reference. Landscape paintings are a way for me to act from within a state of emersion, and in some way transmits astate of mind. So far I have painted only British landscapes, and mostly Lincolnshire. As a British painter, I am interested in a subtle tonal and chromatic range, as this is primarily what I see here.
Many landscape artists have a tendency to be “into” colour, and this expresses its self as an exaggeration ofthe colour they see. This does make attractive paintings, but not necessarily a true record. I am aiming to sacrifice any leaning toward creating a good, or attractive painting, for the sake of recordingwhat I see. I aim to feature a distinct lack of drama in my work, as I feel most people have enough drama intheir real lives, and this has a desensitizing effect.
The natural environment is always expressing a state of equilibrium, a dynamic steady state. I feel this is abetter pattern for human life. We can learn how to be human, from observing what is not human. There is no attempt in these paintings to be original, yet also no attempt to be traditional. I consider them contemporary, as I am contemporary. They are happening now.
As a rule I paint ‘En plein air’ as what can be learned from working from my imagination, or from a secondhand source?”
Over the last ten years Christopher Paris has been a student of Vipassana meditation, and influenced by the “as it is”approach of vipassana has developed a more direct observational style of painting. Christopher wants his work to remain above all honest. He does not want to become seduced by the paint or bythe idea of landscape painting. He feels that his journey of exploration has left him more committed to thissimple and direct approach.By not using imagination, but just direct perception, his aim is to create a “space” for the viewer to enter.
Education
1996-7 University of Brighton PGCE Secondary Art and Design
1983-86 Liverpool Polytechnic BA (Hons) Degree Fine Art
1981-83 Mansfield College of Art & Design. DATEC Diploma in General Art & Design
Exhibitions
2011
Cambridge Contemporary Summer show
'The Sense of Space', Newark Millgate Museum
Alford Manor House
2010
Storm Fine Arts, Norfolk
Stark Gallery, Canterbury
Iona House Gallery, Woodstock
Group exhibition - "Here comes the sun", Harding House Gallery
Outside In Solo Exhibition, Spotlight Gallery, Newark Town Hall
Joanna Jones Gallery, Bottesford
Newark Millgate Museum
