IM NOT MUCH GOOD, CHARLIE

The final artwork is Benji Thomas’ largest coloured pencil work to date. Also the titular piece of his solo exhibition ‘I’m Not Much Good, Charlie’ this piece, as with the previous two works, was inspired by a scene in the TV series Peaky Blinders. Thomas was struck by the similarity of this particular scene to Peter Doig’s ‘Echo Lake’, and it was this similarity which set this series of works in motion for the artist.

A solitary figure stands at the edge of a luscious lake which provides the perfect mirror image of the scene above it. Surrounded by autumnal colours of rich reds, oranges and golden yellow, the highly detailed work is a mesmerising piece of pattern and warm colour.

Across the central band, the tangle of vegetation seem interwoven into a pattern across the waters edge, forming a pattern reminiscent of Celtic symbols, within which entire trunks emerge and rest on the banks of the lake. Standing above, the lonesome character is dressed in black, a stark cool image against the warmth of the landscape.

The top half of the image is assumed to be the reality and here the tones are darker, the artists hand harder creating bold colour. Whereas the glassy soft colouring of the bottom half of the image hints at the coolness of the water.

The previous 2 works in this series have focussed on the beauty of nature, as portrayed in Peaky Blinders. They are isolated moments which stand alone as beautiful landscapes of their own accord. This final image is quite different in that it features a figure yet seems more isolated as he stands alone surrounded by the looming trees. The introduction of the colour red in this piece creates a dramatic atmosphere; certainly not just an observation this work has a strong sense of narrative and one of a sense of moody foreboding.

For this new series of works, Benji Thomas has built upon his interest in capturing fleeting moments into intricate 2D renderings using his current medium of choice; the coloured pencil.

The first artwork to be released in his solo exhibition ‘I’m Not Much Good Charlie’ is the stunning landscape of ‘expedition #2’. Lush rolling hills are punctuated by a large tree which sprawls its branches across the scene and sits against a warm blue sky. The scene is bathed in a golden hour glow, every surface radiates and illuminates an overwhelming warmth.

The minute detail of this work displays Thomas’ incredible eye for colour, something which is punctuated by the unforgiving medium he chooses. The considered layering of solid colour can be seen clearly in the detail images, working the pencil colour as an oil painter would, and this application only enhances the depth of the work.

Illumination is a word which instantly comes to mind when taking in a Benji Thomas artwork, drawing on the renaissance masters and more contemporary references such as David Hockney, this landscape sings with the hum of nature in all its beauty and wilderness.

A heavily tonal craggy hillside landscape forms the second artwork from Benji Thomas’ solo exhibition. Using a delicately considered blend of greens, blues and oranges in coloured pencil, Thomas nods to the mossy covering of the landscape while in the centre stands a large proud tree, with a halo outlining it against the foggy sky.

Throughout Thomas’ work we comment on the luminosity and his keen eye for accentuating this across nature in his works. However in a piece as simple as this, his impeccable attention to detail is heightened, showcasing his eye for colour, light, tone and texture.

The soft creamy texture of the sky hints at a fog, yet the golden colour which has become synonymous with this new series of works, hints at a warm summers glow. Coupled with the purples and oranges of the tree gives this scene an almost otherworldly glow.

A peaceful moment where the viewer can get lost in the majestic moment of nature. Taking a deeper look into the technique used by Thomas is a delight and invigorating - the use of bold and brazen colouring somehow subdued overall to create an incredibly calm and serene image.