"I would say that I am a constant searcher. In fact I think I search for a new voice with every new piece of work. Some artists have a very recognisable consistent style and seem to have found a confident space in which to create. I have not found that degree of confidence with my work although others tell me that my work feels grounded. It is interesting how we perceive ourselves compared to how others perceive us. Being uncertain makes me experiment. And I enjoy experimenting. 

The biggest emotive change for me as I have matured as an artist is that I no longer feel as though I need permission to create. As a younger person I think I was always looking for approval, always trying to create what other people would like. This definitely hinders the creative process. Now I feel more comfortable with who I am and what I do. I create because I want to. I hope that this connects with other people but actually for me it's a journey of self-expression. Sometimes I aim to capture a likeness, other times I aim to capture an emotion. In capturing a likeness it is important to at least approximate the thing that you are replicating. 

For me the finished piece should at least convey to the viewer what it is they are looking at. Having said this I rarely simply set out to copy something. There is always a degree of subjective creativity in even my more realistic pieces. when I am trying to create a less realistic image the finish point is much less clear. I have created works where, at the outset, I have quite a clear end point in mind. During the creative process I sometimes reach a point where emotionally I think 'that is it', that is what I want to capture. It is important to recognise that emotional connectivity and stop, re-evaluate and decide whether you will add anything by continuing. 

In the past I have continued past the point of emotional satisfaction, to try and achieve what I set out to achieve and in doing so have lost the sense of satisfaction. Other times I have done what I set out to achieve and have felt no sense of emotional connectivity to the 'finished' article only to add a simple detail and pull it all back together. I find that printmaking is quite a nerve-racking but exciting way of working. It is not until the paper is lifted from the press that one can be sure how the print has worked out. With multiple coloured prints each colour press is another experience, until the whole print is finished.

Whilst I do find painting quite a flexible media to work in and I love it for that, printmaking feels like a much more disciplined process. Printing makes me think about form, image, the relationship of shape and colour in a certain way and in doing so shapes the outcome."

Steve Brookman