Added Feb 18, 2006
Stephen West's techniques of making art are the modernist handling of materials exemplified by the axiom 'truth to materials' allied with a populist and absurdist figurative descriptive or story telling element. Simple materials are important to Stephen's handling so paintings are often made with egg tempera or gouache on board or gessoed board. Drawings are charcoal or ink and often cut up and collaged so paper, card and other materials are employed to give a sculptural or alien quality to a drawing. As mark making, speed and expression are important - classic 'good' drawing is often sacrificed to a contemporary sketchy or cartoon language. Cutting stone in sculpture is more important than additive clay techniques and carving with a chisel conveys an honest mark related to the drawn mark on paper. Carving technique is 'direct carving', in other words the block is worked directly with little use of sketches or designs although drawing on the stone or on paper is employed to help deciding the direction of the sculpture.
Drawing on paper in charcoal, ink and gouache
Wood construction, paper and card construction
stone carving
clay modelling
wax and bronze technique - wax modelling, lost wax casting