13. Ennui Refigured: Freya Purdue

Narbi and I discuss the Ashington Painting series that informs his PhD thesis; his visit to Gdańsk, Poland; painting and photography, and why historical events and locations, from iconic street corners, to gruesome scenes, to the poignant and personal, fascinate him. Follow Narbi on Insta: @NarbiPrice Follow me on Twitter and Insta: 23Carousels Cover image: 'Untitled Barrier Painting (Westerplatte)' by Narbi Price, acrylic on canvas, 91x122cm, 2019. Intro & Outro Music: www.hooksounds.com

Keith and I discuss the power of the North Sea landscape, recent and long-term memory, Turner, Raoul De Keyser, the relationship between working in the studio and outdoors, translating feelings and experiences into painting, what it means to capture the ‘thingness’ of nature, the ability to finally enjoy Picasso’s paintings, and the importance of having go-to artists during times of doubt. Follow Keith on Insta: keithmurdoch.art Follow me on Twitter and Insta: 23Carousels Cover image: “Forest” by Keith Murdoch, oil on canvas, 2020, 10” x8”. Image courtesy of the artist. Intro & Outro Music: www.hooksounds.com

We discuss Clare’s 2018 solo show Fragility Spills, social media as a ‘safe space’, gender, identity, duality, Soho’s clubbing and art scenes during the 1990s, performativity and painting, and why painter Joan Mitchell is an inspiration. Follow Clare on Instagram, 'clareprice_' Cover image: Clare Price in her studio, 2019. Image courtesy of the artist. Intro & Outro Music: www.hooksounds.com

Freya and I discuss the meaning behind her two-person exhibition ‘Ennui Refigured’, the nature of digital boredom, spirituality and the human condition, ancient cultures, Africa, Agnes Martin, Frank Stella, Larry Poons, space exploration, painting and limitless inspiration and the power of Jackson Pollock’s 1943 artwork ‘Guardian’s of the Secret'. Cover image: Freya Purdue's studio (with painting detail), 2019. Intro & Outro Music: www.hooksounds.com

Fiona and I discuss the relationship between primitive mark-making and charcoal drawing, art history, the notion of 'shy painting', making sense of chaos, finding balance between acceptance and criticality, Picasso, poetry, Disney cartoons, Van Gogh's sunflowers, Rauschenberg, De Kooning and using drawings as 'spirit guides'. Cover image: 'Figure 1g'. Oil and acrylic on canvas, 2014, 72 x 51 in / 183 x 129.5 cm. Photograph courtesy of the artist. Intro & Outro Music: www.hooksounds.com

We discuss Laurence's 2017 solo show 'Open System' at the C&C Gallery in London, his father's memorabilia and obsessive collecting, the reasons why he titles paintings after particular colours as well as the Bauhaus Moment, collage and assemblage, Paul Klee's fascination with gardens, the harmonic balance of colour and his favourite recent exhibitions. Cover Image courtesy of Brigitte Parusel. Intro & Outro Music: www.hooksounds.com

We discuss his current studio practice and regular visits to Valencia, the beauty of Spanish culture and why painters desire sanctuary, the philosophy of walking and returning to places, plein air drawing and memory, and Susan Sontag's thoughts on Howard Hodgkin. Intro & Outro Music: www.hooksounds.com

Subjects include the similarities and the differences between painting and mosaics, the confines of the grid, working collaboratively in the studio, decoration and visual restlessness, Genesis, James Tissot's painting 'The Last Evening' and coping with the art world. Intro & Outro Music: www.hooksounds.com

We discuss his studio plans, oil painting techniques, imperfections and the craft of model-making, archetypes, romanticism, geodesic domes, Google Earth and science fiction and the 'hopefulness' of landscape painting. Priseman Seabrook art Collections: www.priseman-seabrook.org Intro & Outro Music: www.hooksounds.com

We discuss figuration and ambiguity in contemporary painting, his exhibition 'Soldier' held at Sandham Memorial Chapel in Hampshire, England, and the upcoming show 'Companion Pieces' in London, dualities and multi-layered meanings, Velasquez, Bacon, Goya and Picasso, and the importance of 'refreshing the tradition'. Intro & Outro Music: www.hooksounds.com