William Turnbull

 

William Turnbull was a Scottish sculptor and painter. He is known for figurative and minimalist sculpture, as well as abstract painting. During the mid-1950s the head was an important theme in Turnbull’s paintings and sculptures. In both disciplines he explored the limits of the motif, often abstracting it up to the edge of its legibility as a head. 

Although more famous for sculpture (and there is still sculpture present in the 'Head' series of works), I am most fascinated by Turnbull's screenprints, which appear more of an impression of the head than a structured limb. This abstraction appears very emotive and expressionist, especially in 'Head (proofs)' (above) and Head Blue/ Yellow (below). The almost explosive markings are even somewhat violent and certainly convey a sense of movement or activity present within the confines of a 'head', something I would also like to explore through the medium of boundless shapes and impressions of things once recognisable. 

https://www.waddingtoncustot.com/artists/40-william-turnbull/

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/turnbull-head-3-t05211