By Bernie Bell

Last Autumn I happened on Vernon Bradley’s Facebook page.  Vernon had been painting and producing images that are …..individual, extra-ordinary, compulsive – as in – a compulsion to step/dive into them.

Here’s Vernon’s Facebook page – see for yourself

https://www.facebook.com/vernon.bradley.397

Strong stuff – stirs you up  – makes you sit up and take notice.  Rage – caged rage – uncaged rage – often including a blood-red sun-spot….the blood-red Aten which looks to me like a drop of blood on the canvas.

I don’t know if this was Vernon’s intention – but it’s what it presented to me.

Interpretation of and reaction to art is very personal, and the red dot links with blood, life and sun in my mind.  Though it has to be said, my mind is a strange place – always has been.

Blood holds so much of life, and the sun produces so much of the basics of life.

In winter, in Orkney, we get a lot of vivid sun-rises and sun-sets – blood red. And Vernon spent last winter in a shed In Westray – painting.

He’s now holding an exhibition of his work in Northlight Gallery, Stromness, from the 17^th of May to the 4^th of June.

If you go to see the exhibition – be prepared to be shaken.  Be prepared for light in dark corners, a werewolf wood….be prepared – it’s strong stuff…..

Werewolf Wood? – there’s a film called ’The Company of Wolves’….

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Company_of_Wolves

It’s described in Wikipedia as being a ‘horror film’.  I don’t see it as such. The tale centres around the story of Red Riding Hood, whose Grandma – a sour so-and-so – repeatedly warns Red not to stray from the path.  Red disobeys – and meets with a bit of alright who turns out to be a Werewolf. 

Is it best to stay on the path and be safe – or stray and LIVE?  I‘ve said that Vernon’s images are such that you feel drawn to go into them– the Werewolf Wood is not a safe place, but an interesting one.  Vernon’s work isn’t safe – but – is safe always what we’d choose? 

He also produces what he refers to as ‘pretty pictures’ – his works being a contrast of deep layers of paint scored by angry lines – and dainty flowers – laid down gently.

Amidst the anger and pain – let there be light.