“Fractured Vision”, 2024

James Brown

“Fractured Vision”, 2024

Watercolour on heavy wove paper

Size: (sheet) 42 x 29.7 cm; (image borderline) 21.3 x 21.2 cm.

Recently, I've found myself deeply inspired by the works of Australian artist Godfrey Miller, and this painting serves as an instinctive response to the sensitivities I recognise in his art. For me, Miller's approach is characterized by the fragmentation and recomposition of subjects into critical planes, angles, and rhythms. Yet, beneath the visible attributes of his style lies the essence that resonates with me the most: the subtle visual play of small adjustments. I liken this process to playing chess, where a particular colour or tone is echoed and addressed within the composition through careful modifications made elsewhere.

While this watercolour is not a direct imitation of Miller’s style, it embraces his concept of deconstructing a scene and reconfiguring it through personal sensitivity. From my perspective, this painting captures the sensory overload one might experience in a forest, where myriad details compete for attention, and flashes of vibrant colours create an overwhelming, almost explosive sensory experience—where there is much to observe, yet nothing truly perceived. Although the focus is on three trees in the foreground, the true essence lies in their dissolution into a fragmented matrix of colour and rhythm.