Mysterious Adventures: Paintings by David Brooke

David Brooke’s paintings create a sense of mystery. In his paintings people embark on unexpected adventures such as riding on the back of a large fish, or else they run across the landscape carrying a burning tree. The paintings themselves are meticulously built up in many layers of acrylic paint creating texture and detail. The style has a look of medieval book illuminations but with a contemporary twist.

His paintings include highly stylised figures in action. Large hands and feet draw attention to whatever it is they’re doing, and what they’re connecting to beyond themselves. David’s aim is to create a sense of mystery, although events are taking place within his paintings, sometimes it is unclear exactly what is happening. There clearly is a narrative in these painting, but it is left to the viewer to decide the nature of that narrative.

David says “The idea of mystery for it’s own sake appeals to me. It seems to me that we always want to know the answers to everything. But I believe it is better just to experience the beauty of the mysterious world. To ask lots of questions, but not to be to worried about knowing if there are any answers. Just enjoy the mysterious.”