© Steve Risby 1995, 60 x70 cm oil/canvas From the Artist: "My paintings are their own statement, I would hope. I'd love to hear feedback as I haven't been getting my work out there much recently, am now moving up a gear. Help always appreciated/returned. My influences include my tutors, especially Rod Harman (of Hastings), Wyne Jones, Bev Brennan , Marcus Lazerides, and my painter mates Alex Roberts (Ferrett), Keith Esdale, Chris Humphries, Gary Sollars (for my portaits) and of course all the greats, especially Vincent, early Jackson, reading William Blake when tripping, Tintoretto and El Greek; I heard Pab did a few nice ones.... Also early influences that remain, Hitchens, Lanyon, Rae,Chris Wood, friends and family. Looking forward to hearing from you all, or even just someone. I'm online on Monday very late GMT if anyone wants to chat in the Painting chat room." See also Emmanuelle Reading and Yoko 2.

From the Painting Guide: The lack of a title means there's nothing to guide my interpretion of this painting (not necessarily a bad thing). Is it meant to be abstract or reality based? Is it a ruined room? Is that a barn (split) door hanging off its hinges in the centre? Are those floorboards lifted from the joists on the left? Is that a sheet/curtain and peeling wallpaper at the bottom right? Is that a tiny skull underneath the left corner of the black square? For me the fact that I can see these things, or interpret the shapes as these, means it's perhaps not a "pure" abstract. Does this technicality matter? Not to my mind; for me it's ultimately whether a painting intrigues you and makes you keep wanting to look at it that matters. And I think that in real life, the textures and gold will add to the intrigue of work, which you simply can't get in a photo. Updated to add: When I posted this painting Steve realised he'd not given the the title, nor the size or medium, which I've now added.