Ian Brown

Concepts I produce both sculptures and paintings. The painting ideas spring from my drawings, which are generally views of man-made structures demonstrating strong perspective effects, whereas my 3D work ideas come as concepts that are then explored with drawings or models. All of my work, at present, tends to have a hard-edged, mechanical feel. The sculptures are constructions, whilst the paintings are based on ideas of linear perspective and painted using masking and spraying techniques. I tend to work in series; becoming interested in an idea or shape and progressively reworking it in an obsessive way, exploring variations in the form and often simplifying it to a more basic image or object ( a method of developing ideas contrary to the norm). Part of my obsessive approach includes concern over accuracy and surface finish as high standards of construction and finish are very important to me.Influences It is hard to pin down why I am so interested in perspective and want to keep seeing it work. Perhaps it is the way that a scientific rule can apply itself in a visual way. Similarly I enjoy constructing things, DIY and building work as well as making sculptures. My early sculptures were kinetic machines based on waveforms and this also suggests an interest in scientific principles. I respond to the work of Patrick Caulfield and enjoy the techniques of Michael Craig Martin and Julian Opie. I was particularly impressed with the 3D constructions made by Patrick Hughes, which explored and contradicted 2D perspective. I also find the fantasy architecture of the Italian "Futurists" exciting because of the use of perspective. The cast forms of Rachel Whiteread's work are also intriguing, and in some ways reminiscent of my "Four" series constructions.Career path I was interested in Art at school, becoming very excited about print, pottery and sculpture projects but not enjoying drawing. I also liked science and chose this as a career path. I started a BSc course in pharmacy but quickly realised that I missed art too much and left university. I worked for a while to raise funds before going to Art College, specialising in sculpture. After this I did a postgraduate teaching course but did not go straight into teaching, working for a year on perspective drawings. I then became a specialist Sculpture teacher in a secondary school but this left no time for my own work. However, by the time I was 40 I had set up a workshop and studio at home and was financially in a position to start working part-time. This meant that I could resume my own work and afford to do so without relying on selling it. I make Art projects as I have an explicable need to do so.