About the Artist

Ajay Sood

 

I am grounded in figurative work, and use drawing as the basic structure to understand a subject before painting. 

Here are some of the principles I believe in:

    • Nature is very difficult to re-create and improve on
    • The process of drawing and painting is much more than recording observations
    • Capturing and displaying energy and emotion is what art is all about
    • Form is important; it’s the easiest thing to which people relate because it’s recognisable
    • Art can be over-intellectualised and pretentious
    • Destruction is as important as creation, and often requires more courage
    • The best art comes from the best materials, just like the best music comes from the best instruments
    • Technique is important but it needs to become second nature otherwise it looks artificial
    • Good pictures look spontaneous even though they have a lot of toil behind the improvised effect
    • Some of the best results are accidental
    • Accidents don’t just happen; you have to create the conditions which allow them to happen
    • Pretty pictures are nice to look at for a day; meaningful pictures can be looked at forever

As I continue to learn I will add to this list.

 

Studied:
1983-85 Ontario College of Art (Canada)
2006 Heatherley’s School of Fine Art
2009 Studio Hugo Grenville
2005-2011 The Prince’s Drawing School, London

Exhibited:
~ 2002 Reigate College
2002 – 2005 Bletchingley Centre, Surrey