Inspired by the cropping of images inside the camera lens to the enigma of colour Stephen Hobbs paintings are bold abstractions. His compositions are informed by the built environment around him, whilst his process involves a considered approach to surface colour and form. 

Drawing on sketches in gouache and watercolour he says, ‘My work is an expressive hard-edge abstraction, sometimes employing geometry. I don't use a ruler or tape. The slips, accidents and imperfect lines are embraced.’ He adds ‘I love art materials, and the narrative of pigments, derived from exotic places, such as ultramarine blue from a particular mountain in Afghanistan. All the cadmium colours are highly poisonous, I love them. Colour has power, I like to use strong colour.’ 

Hobbs is drawn to the genre of abstraction enjoying its capacity to channel the mind. Of his titles he has derived them from music he listens to in the studio “Abstraction is like music without lyrics, music is important to my practice and I never work without it.” 

@stephen_hobbs_studio 

The show runs at Newcastle Art Space from Friday 14 June - Sunday 30 June 2024 

Gallery hours: Thurs - Fri 10am - 2pm Sat - Sun 12pm - 4pm