Description

Queensway Underpass stands out as one of my most dynamic paintings of the Birmingham cityscape. I created it after a rainy evening on the footbridge over Great Charles Street Queensway. I spent hours photographing the rush of traffic streaming into the tunnel. From that height, I could see the city’s rhythm pulsating beneath me. In the distance, Centenary Square and the Wheel glowed faintly.

I chose a tall, narrow canvas to enhance the drama. This design draws the viewer’s eye deep into the painting. The bright tunnel serves as the focal point, pulling you in with its glow. Meanwhile, the brake lights of the cars leave streaks of reflected colour dancing across the tunnel walls.

Additionally, the drizzle provided a luminous sheen, which was perfect for both my slow-shutter photography and the painting process. This combination created a captivating atmosphere, enhancing my creative experience.

Inspiration for Queensway Underpass:

Standing on that footbridge invigorated my senses. The city pulsed beneath me, and the blue evening light mixed with drizzle created an ideal scene. The street surface glowed, and light trails appeared vividly through my camera lens.

I rarely settle for just a photograph. As a fine artist, I want to interpret the scene in a larger, more abstract way. I respond to the emotions I felt while on the bridge, capturing them in my work.

Techniques and media used: 

In terms of techniques, I focused primarily on the cars racing toward the bright tunnel. Their reflective lights bounced off the tunnel walls, creating an engaging effect.

For the rest of the city scene, I used muted, complementary colours: soft blues, warm browns, and greys highlighted the distant Centenary Square.

Oil paint requires significant drying time; therefore, I worked in thin layers to build rich, glowing colours. Moreover, I added translucent reds and yellows over dry white paint, which made the light areas really pop. Consequently, this technique enhanced the overall vibrancy of the artwork.

The Purple Gallery, Bournville, Birmingham, sold Queensway Underpass.