Edge Of Madness. Pop Art Painting
This is a slight divergence from Doug’s style, current at the time of painting, it is very borderline on Expressionism and Fauvism.
Expressionism typically presents the world from a subjective perspective, attempting to project emotion rather than physical reality. Fauvism was a style where strong or ‘wild’ colours were emphasised over realistic elements.
All artists tend to plunder others’ work as an influence on their own. However, here any actual influence on Doug’s work appears to be on a subtle or even subconscious level. Doug often wonders whether his work will ever influence others.
leaning against a stylised bar
The Edge of Madness features a main female character in a relatively realistic form (compared with classic Expressionist forms) with brightly coloured exposed skin, as if lit by coloured spotlights, yet not illuminating her disjointed and wild-coloured surrounds.
She appears, perhaps, to be leaning against a stylised bar and there also appears to be what could be the reflection of her back, further along the bar.
However, there is no apparent mirror or glass. Therefore it might not be a reflection after all, and might actually be another woman. The skin tone is more of a natural one here and there is no halo effect of the bright colours that might have been expected if a pure reflection.
*Artist Doug Kemp with Edge Of Madness Painting
Coloured geometric patterns
The diagonal leanings of the women/woman are in parallel and add to the overall structure of the work as do the coloured geometric patterns, although apparently not so with each other.
The stylised swirling smoke and the kissing embrace add to the impression of a rather disjointed bar or nightclub scene.
There is also an abstract profile of a man that is not immediately apparent, effectively concealed as another coloured panel.
