Tony Mighell's art practice resides at the pictorial intersection of representation and abstraction. The gestural quality of the artist's mark points to a desire to reference a humanist meditative quality—yet he maintains a powerful drive to eliminate overt representation within his compositions.

 

Referencing the longitudinal and horizontal lines of thread that intersect on a weaving loom—Mighell displays a gentle atmospheric sensitivity in WARP AND WEFT—born from transparent glazes and shapes hovering over the picture plane. Rhythm and precision are the key aspects of the weavers' craft, and it is so with Mighell's painting.

 

His process deliberately, yet delicately, blocks out areas of form—alluding to the history of the line work beneath whilst revealing and focusing our attention on the broader composition. It is a constant balancing act—the push and pull of an artist searching for harmonisation in picture-making.

 

Colour forms part of his exploration—the movement of one tone to the next juxtaposed with dots and lines that feel familiar but sit just beyond the periphery of our recognition.

 

There is an overt power in the foundation of the lineal structure of his compositions that underpins the deep complexity of his work. Ultimately, Mighell guides us to a place of contemplation and aesthetic completion. 

 

Ralph Hobbs

November, 2023