After being someone that predominately works with bright bold colour, painting with black and white was a welcome change. Together with the more lineal marks, this little study becomes reminiscent of a drawing

Lion Constellations featured in my Tales of Love & Reason show in 2011; that is: large lion faces made up entirely of patterns (see Gallery for an example). Its an honest fact that I had never seen the black lineal graphic images of lions and tigers that seemed to dominate the commercial market a couple of years later. Often spotted on tote bags and t-shirts. ‘Scouts honor I never copied this idea!’

One day during my preparation for the exhibition, the art supplier I was buying my canvases from had a large black primed one for sale. I took it home and began applying white lines and patterns. I had the intention of painting a lions face. Working loosely from photos I had taken of numerous lion fountains and sculptures from a recent trip to Florence, Italy; an explosion of pattern almost by miracle appeared. It started from the centre of the canvas and spread out to create a striking image of a lion.

It looked like a galaxy of complex star systems that formed a face. I know that without the black canvas it would never have happened. It was an undeniable new direction and new way of seeing. After this I understood that pattern could play a significant role in my art and if i chose, could be anything but decoration.

This little study was done after the four large constellation lions were completed. It was a small curiosity to see if I drew with some of the same elements but with hardly any pattern; how that experience would effect me.

When I look at him; this small stream of star light, I am always reminded that he comes from a great cosmic family.