This is my first foray into the world of blogging. Who knows where this will take me, or even if it will continue for long. I intend to use this space to explore a little deeper into certain elements of my work and to help me do this I have asked a good friend of mine to assist in the analysis and commentary of these works - for the purposes of these blog entries they will be simply known as 'The Curator'.

Mark

Burrell transforms the everyday into the profound, celebrating the beauty of the overlooked and discarded. Through mixed-media works that blur abstraction and representation, he explores existential questions, the fragility of existence, and our search for meaning. Using humble materials like found objects, Burrell creates tactile experiences that evoke emotions. memories and the passage of time. His art invites us to see the world with fresh eyes, find beauty in imperfection, and ponder the complexities of being human.

The Curator

Pinky Promise

In Pinky Promise, Burrell explores the complexities of promises made to others and oneself. The pink canvas establishes a sense of intimacy, while the bold red cross over a faintly sketched heart conveys both strength and vulnerability. A mixed-media strip at the base of the painting combines fragmented textures and bold, dripping paint, suggesting the layered nature of commitments that shape our lives.

The pink drips appear almost involuntary, as if the promises themselves have a physical presence, spilling over and influencing Burrell's journey.

This contemporary piece invites the viewer to reflect on the promises that bind us, and the tension between honouring oneself and others.

Through Pinky Promise, Burrell reveals their fascination with the interplay between emotion, texture, and colour.

The Curator - 31/12/2025

Fragments 1, 2 & 3.

Fragments 1 - A Study in Balance

In Fragments 1, Burrell presents a contemporary mixed-media composition on 350 gsm watercolour paper, the first work in a series of three. The right-hand side of the canvas is occupied by an assemblage of torn, coloured paper fragments arranged in an angular, collage-like formation that suggests a fragmented structure or abstract architecture.

Overlaid on this collage are expressive black brushstrokes and a bold black cross, introducing tension and gestural energy.

Below the collage, thin, wavering pencil lines extend downward, implying movement or the lingering traces of an unseen form. The left side of the paper remains a plain, off-white surface, emphasising spatial emptiness and allowing the fragmented composition to become a focal point of introspection.

Through Fragments 1, Burrell investigates the interplay between disorder and restraint, using paper texture and mark-making to evoke the layered nature of memory and experience.

Fragments 2 - A Study in Disruption

In Fragments 2, the artist presents the second work in their mixed-media series on 350 gsm watercolour paper. The composition centres on a circular collage of torn paper shards in muted earth tones—white, yellow, brown, blue, and black—arranged to suggest a fragmented face or mask. The collage is set against a warm beige paper background that leaves ample negative space, focusing attention on the central disruption.

Over the collage Burrell lays aggressive, sweeping black brushstrokes that cut across the fragments, implying motion and tension that break the implied structure apart. Below the circular assembly, a dense, dark vertical wash drips downward, creating a stark contrast with the lighter upper section and symbolising the weight of unresolved layers beneath surface appearances.

Through Fragments 2, Burrell explores how chaos intrudes on constructed forms, using texture and gestural marks to convey the tension between the desire for order and the inevitability of breakdown in human experience.

Fragments 3 - A Study in Space

In the last piece in the series, Burrell juxtaposes textured collage elements with a raw pencil sketch. A vibrant yellow strip cuts dynamically through muted paper fragments, creating a sense of movement in the upper portion of the composition. Below it, a heavily drawn black rectangle anchors the work with an expressive, almost sculptural line that trails downward, hinting at architectural or symbolic framing. The combination of collage and drawing showcases Burrell’s exploration of materiality and gesture within modern contemporary painting, inviting viewers to read both physical texture and conceptual space in the work.

In Summary -

The Fragments series comprises three works (42cm x 30cm), on 350 gsm watercolour paper, each exploring the breakdown and reconstruction of visual information. By juxtaposing collaged geometric shards with raw gestural marks, Burrell interrogates how disparate experiences (the fragments) coalesce into a unified visual statement. The series moves from the tightly structured Fragments 1 toward increasingly dispersed compositions in the subsequent pieces, tracing an evolution from order to dissolution. The minimalist empty space in each work serves as a canvas for the viewer's own interpretation of the fragmented narrative.

Burrell chooses the 350 gsm watercolour paper for its substantial weight, which provides a sturdy surface that resists buckling when wet media are applied. The paper's medium texture (cold-press) allows for both fine detail in pencil line work and expressive brushwork in mixed-media applications. Because the paper is relatively thick, it accommodates multiple layers of collage elements, acrylic or watercolour washes, and ink without requiring extensive preparation such as stretching. The durability of 350 gsm paper also makes it suitable for works that will be handled or exhibited, preserving the integrity of the fragile collage fragments and delicate pencil lines seen for example in Fragments 1.

The Curator - 01/01/2026

Context for the Fragments series

The Fragments series comprises three works on 350 gsm watercolour paper, each exploring the breakdown and reconstruction of visual information. Mark