| A
riot of colour |
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| 'Glowing
with life' a painting during his residency at Eden |
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Full
of vibrant colour, John Dyer's work documents the landscape conveying
optimism, fun, joy and happiness.
From sea spray and jazz bands to comets and crickets, everything becomes
an inspiration. |
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From the
age of four John Dyer lived with his family in Holywell Bay on the
north coast of Cornwall. Most of his childhood memories involve spending
his free time on the beach playing in the rock pools, swimming, flying
kites, and occasionally horse riding.
At the age of eighteen he left to study Graphic Design in London and
consequently ended up spending five years away from Cornwall. It was
during his time at college that he decided to paint. He feels it was
a reaction to the constraints of design as well as a yearning for
the landscape of Cornwalls.
He deliberately moved away from the coast to experience a different
way of life, however his Cornish roots soon pulled him back.
John now lives in Falmouth. It was not just the scenery that he moved
back for but the quality of air, light, pace of life, simplicity of
living.
He choose to live in Falmouth because he likes the town, its harbour
and all of the activity associated with it; boats, tugs, ferry trips,
seagulls, people, buildings, making it one of his favourite places
to paint.
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| John
Dyer on a recent residency at The Eden Project |
His influences involve a passion for colour, particularly of the strong,
clashing variety. He enjoy's watching people enjoying themselves on
the beaches and in the harbour towns of Cornwall, giving him the inspiration
to paint big, bright, optimistic pictures of the place he loves.
John has been surrounded by artists and paintings throughout his life.
His father - Ted Dyer - is a well known artist who has been painting
for many years. Although their work is very different, John feels
that growing up surrounded by paintings, paints, easels and art books
does have an effect.
His father has been very successful with his work and John decided
that the lifestyle an artist can have, the freedom to wander in the
landscape with no real pressure or deadlines was a very attractive
one.
After being awarded a travelling bursary to Brazil from Thames Television
John was inspired to use bold colours and imagery. His palette has
a bright Mediterranean or Caribbean feel and the paintings are full
of fun, happiness and humour.
In November 2000 Sue Hill, the art director at The Eden Project offered
John a painting residency, during which he extensively documented
the life inside the biomes.
During May 2001, John also spent a time painting The Abbey Gardens,
Tresco on the Isles of Scilly.
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| 'Agapanthus
Blue' from the Abbey Gardens on Tresco residency |
Through his paintings, John hopes to convey optimism, fun, life,
joy, happiness, the good things in life and the colours that pass
people by. Using paint as his medium, he feels his optimism for
life has been carried through his work, which was something that
I he had previously failed to achieve.
To see more of John Dyer's work, visit his website on:
www.johndyer.info
or have a look at:
www.beside-the-wave.co.uk
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