My stylistic research started with a strong fascination for the Surrealistic movement with Dali and de Chirico.

        Nevertheless, I needed something else to express my true feelings. Therefore, I have discovered when I left France for England a new way with the Scottish School of expressionism and Francis Bacon, Frank Auerbach, Leon Kossoff, De Kooning, Kokoschka.

        This revelation has been a decisive turn in my creativity from a figurative approach I have slowly turned towards abstraction, still keeping a figurative touch in my work. In fact, I wanted to mix abstraction to figuration and vice versa supported by a powerful use of colours.

        My visual gesture is informal and spontaneous at the same time impulsive and controlled. I would like to attach the constructive part produced by the use of strong colours to the illusion of depth, which diminish the vision plane of a picture to create its own autonomy. Then everything is just pure feelings and sensation, which transmit to the viewer this indefinable accomplishment.

        The constant movement of life and its challenges, and more especially our responses in order to survive it, have been a lifelong source of intrigue for me.

        Growth is a continual struggle and yet we are inspired to keep up with it and strive to get ahead of the game. This concept of evolution is strongly represented in my work.

        When I started painting, I found that I was influenced by the early childhood experiences of a strict religious and educational background. My work was dark in subject, colour and texture. As I have matured, my art has expressed itself through several series, ranging in subject matter drawn from urban life and social groups to the powerful forces of nature.

        Vivid colour and bold textures have emerged into the many series of my work. Sweeping lines and expressive gesturing, which reflects my own inner journey of conquering my own demons has replaced earlier more restrictive emotional expressions. For instance in some series I use crosses of paint on the canvas in strong contrasting colours, which apart from creating a joyous picture also emphasise my own spiritual growth.

        In conclusion, I feel that the different elements I have mentioned earlier reflect my own developing journey through life and my response to the continual challenges with which I am faced both as an artist and as a person.

Francesco Ruspoli