Artistic licence with room to Play
Geoff Keen had a shock when he first arrived in Hull. Coming from Bristol, the aspiring painter found a completely different approach to art.
As a student at the Humberside College of Education, Geoff was introduced to the freedoms of abstract art.
Instead of the traditional figurative painting he had been used to in the South West, he saw one fellow student making use of mud in his artwork.
"At first I wondered what was going on," said Geoff, whose latest exhibition, Play, is now on show at the Kingston Art Group gallery.
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"But them I discovered the freedom of expressing yourself, which seemed revolutionary for me at the time."
While Geoff continues to create portraiture, his latest showing emphasises the freer aspects of abstraction.
Though the brightly coloured pieces on show at the Humber Street gallery might look spontaneous, they are the result of careful planning.
To prepare his pieces, Geoff uses a computer programme to play about with ideas, liking the way he can change colours or delete changes at the click of a button, which he then develops into works using materials such as pastel and acrylic paint.
"There is a point at which something electric happens," said Geoff.
"It is that moment when the relationship between form and colour works."
Geoff's latest show is part of a two-decade career which has including teaching.
"I've always enjoyed Hull and have had a lot of support from Kingston Art Group for this exhibition," said Geoff.
"There are a good group of artists here and there is the space, and time, to develop your ideas."
Visit Play at Kingston Art Group (KAG) Gallery, Humber Street, Hull, until Monday, April 1, from 11am to 4.30pm. There will be a free drop-in event on Wednesday, March 27, from 2pm to 4pm at the gallery.
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