Keith Proctor Artist BiographyHistory and Background:
Keith Proctor has been painting all his life; having no formal art training, he is a self-taught artist. Keith was first encouraged by his late father Mark Proctor, who was a commercial artist. His father could sketch almost anything very well and quickly, which always fascinated Keith and inspired him to do the same.
Keith Proctor's first paintings (which he still has) were of birds, as he has always had a big interest in Natural History. At the age of nine, Keith illustrated a little book of his own which was "copied" from the British book of birds - illustrated by Raymond Harris Ching.
With his school days spent day-dreaming, fly-fishing and chasing girls called Deborah, Keith Proctor underwent his own learning curve. Keith used to wave goodbye to his mum in the morning, ride off on his bike and promptly dump it at his friend's house, then jump the bus for a 25 mile ride out to the river Coquet at Felton in Northumberland. Keith's Dad would then run him up to the river and back in his car at weekends not knowing that his son had already spent the entire week there. Keith acknowledges his villainous nature.
This time that Keith spent on the river had a massive influence on his life. It seemed to slow things down and help him to think, help him see the real quiet beauty of nature, thus encouraging him to draw and paint it. Keith Proctor started painting the river then birds, dogs, horses, people and town scenes of Newcastle Upon Tyne.
During the 90's Keith Proctor exhibited his paintings in London at the Tryon Gallery and in the USA at the Klausner Cooperage Gallery. The past two years have seen a return to full time painting for Keith, as he had previously taken some time away from the obsessional painting routine he had fallen into. Keith Proctor returned to painting with a fresh new outlook. He combined a life of "painting," with a life with his young son "Jack."
Ideas and Inspiration:
Keith Proctor confesses he is a 'paint-o-holic'; when he is not painting he is thinking about painting. He has a restless energy and is constantly on the go. Painting, drawing or studying for his future paintings usually occupies his time. It's not so much subject matter, but "actually painting" that inspires Keith; to be recognized as someone who can paint well is the most important thing to him.
Keith Proctor finds inspiration for his work all around him all the time, "like most artists" Keith is constantly observing shape, light and colour. It is the colours in reflected light, and the study of the effects that colours have on each other that interests him most. Other artist's work he admires and who have inspired him are Raymond Harris Ching and the late Manfred Shatz; as Keith thinks they have both painted the effects of light, shade, and colour exceedingly well.
Keith has previously painted most subjects but has recently concentrated on people. Keith created simple studies of everyday people doing everyday things, such as the way a person walks or stands. He loves to watch and paint people. Keith Proctor included his son Jack in a recent painting (Footsteps) and that has led to more and more paintings of him. Keith states that Jack, like many young children, is beauty in motion; a totally free spirit without the weight of the world upon him yet. Keith believes that children are "truly natural" and that's what Keith wants to show in the paintings of Jack, a lovely little boy doing little boy things.
From Palette to Picture:
Keith Proctor's father told him, never draw a straight line and never draw a whole line, always break them up when you sketch, and change the weight applied to the pencil to make your marks interesting. Keith still sketches this way today.
Keith paints in oils, in daylight only. He starts with a charcoal sketch; concentrating mainly on balance and composition before he begins painting. He always works with a very large mirror behind him and keeps glancing over his shoulder to analyse things from a different angle. Keith works very quickly indeed in rapidly applying the paint. He uses a "strictly" limited palette and mixes with care before painting. It is bold, fast, confident brush work that makes things work for Keith, as once he slows down and starts picking at the work he knows it is finished. On these occasions, Keith can hear his Father shouting "leave it alone."
Keith Proctor always listens to music as he paints. He listens to everything from rock music to Rachmaninoff; and goes through stages of working to certain music, even individual songs. All of the Jack paintings to date have been painted while listening to Tony Bennett.
View artwork by Keith Proctor |
