Sunday Challenge: Featuring Mike Worrall

Hello everyone !  I have the pleasure to introduce to you the work by Mike Worrall.  He is currently based in the Central Coast of NSW, Australia,  and has been a practicing artist since the early 60s and exhibits both locally and internationally. 

The enigmatic, dreamlike paintings of Mike Worrall are often inspired by historical themes.  Informed by his work in film, Worrall deals with the sublime in his hyperreal depictions of the mysterious.  As in a dream, the quiet façade and the beauty of the large scale oil paintings masks the intriguing content and enormous energy underpinning the works.  

The Trouble with Time, oil on canvas, 122x183cm, 2008-9

From his biography:   Born 1942 in Matlock Derbyshire, UK

"I have been painting since the early 1960's and am almost entirely self taught. I still retain the basic technique and style developed in these early years. I am committed to exploring the subconscious and I like Paul Delvaux and Max Ernst amongst others."

Bridge of Folly, oil on linen, 122x182cm, 2007

"As a child I was always intrigued by paintings involving some sought of mystery element. So I have tended to be drawn in this direction myself. Get the viewer guessing and wondering what it's about! Quite often I’m not sure myself but for some inexplicable reason it might work as a picture. I might not understand it myself even. It may be an expression on a face or just a pose or location."

 The Forgotten Expectation, oil on panel, 117x183cm, 2011

"I'm a firm believer that I should not have to attempt to explain the enigma to people and that the picture should retain some mystery for a lasting interest. This I hasten to add is not so with all work off course! I’m only referring to my surreal content paintings!

The Artist 
I'm interested in Dreams and Subconscious thoughts and the weirdness of how we go from one thought to another in an almost drifting process. Dreams are a great source of material for me. Not that I wake up and paint the dream that I may have had, even if I could remember it, I'd then have to most likely make up the details. My paintings are more deliberate and constructed with the element of change.

 Forest Terminal, oil on canvas, 122x182cm, 2007

I am an Intuitive painter. If it doesn't work in an Intuitive way, I can’t progress. I don't suppose that's all that unusual really, I suppose all artists are intuitive!"

Poets Corner, oil on linen, 122x155cm, 2002

For a complete view of his work, please visit here.

Our challenge is to write a new poem or prose poem or flash fiction (250 words limit)  based on the work & themes of Mike Worrall.  If you upload his image/s in your writing, please acknowledge the name of the artist and link to his work.  Mike has expressed interest in our work and I will be sending him the link after we have completed our challenge.   I will be checking in during the week to see if anyone else has linked up. 

Wishing you all Happy Weekend ~  

Grace (aka Heaven)