I grew up in a home full of artifacts, which instilled in me a life-long love of modern and contempo-rary art. My mother strongly encouraged individual expression, free thinking, and introspective crea-tivity.

While I remained intensely interested in 19th and 20th century art, it wasn’t until 2010 when I was trav-eling in France, that I met artists who offered me my first opportunity to paint.

As soon as I returned home, I took a variety of short courses and personal tuition to learn essential techniques.

As I progressed, I experimented with both figurative and abstract styles and explored portraits, land-scapes, and social commentary.

My current works are primarily about the emotive power of colour coupled with a rhythmic sense of flow that engages the observer in a one-on-one conversation.

Generally using the medium of acrylic on canvas, I employ a gestural style of applying paint that comprises both short dabs and a flicking technique reminiscent of drip painting.

My work is becoming more concerned with conveying abstract conceptions rather than figurative statements or stories.

As questions occur to the observer, it is the role of the painting to provide answers as they continue to unpack and explore the meanings of the marks and motifs used.

To me, a successful painting is one where the observer keeps returning to continue this conversation as they continue to analyze the work.

I rotate a selection of my works on my website at www.adeblakey.com. I also post some works and more experimental offerings to Instagram: see @ade_blakey_artist.

Prints of the works exhibited here are available from adeblakeyart.com.