BANISTER ART STUDIO

MY APPROACH

Artist Tips

 

Paint what you feel.. Not what you see.

Abstract from something, a starting point then see where this takes you.

 

Discoverability

A line, a mark may lead you in many directions. Discover a way forward from these early marks.

 

Follow the mark

Sometimes these images come from deep within. A visceral reaction which develops into an idea which then promotes further images and pathways.

 

Unseen forces

Consider how natural forces shape and distort our world. The weather, atmospheric pressure, gravity, geological time when frozen they give us a glimpse of a suspended state trapped in a moment of time.

 

Drawing is different..

Draw what you see.. Not what you know. React to a sense of place and context abstract from what you see.

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Use heavier lines and higher contrast in the foreground, and soften or lighten the background elements. It creates instant depth.

Architecture taught me to see the world in structures and systems but art lets me re-imagine it. If you’ve ever felt your creative side and technical side pulling in different directions, trust that they can actually feed each other.

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As someone with a background in architecture, I’ve come to realise that the way I see space, form, light and feel natural forces dramatically influences and drives how I make art. When not designing buildings, the training stays with me. Whether I’m sketching a city street or creating abstract forms, my architectural mindset is always at play.​That fluency carries into our art.

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In my sketches, I often find myself placing vanishing points instinctively. Whether it’s a cathedral, a street or an imagined structure, I’m always thinking in planes and axes. The result? Drawings that feel grounded, dimensional and immersive even if they’re stylised or abstract.

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We are obsessed with proportion for good reason. A well-proportioned space feels right. That same instinct applies in art.

Architectural training sharpens your internal “ruler,” even when drawing freehand. It helps make scenes more believable and keeps every object in harmony with its surroundings.

Architects design spaces in layers foreground, middle ground, background. We think in volumes and transitions, not just flat facades. This way of thinking naturally lends itself to building depth in artwork.

I often treat my drawings like spatial abstract walkthroughs: what’s closest to the viewer? What recedes? What overlaps? I play with line weight, contrast, and even atmospheric effects to add dimension and clarity.