Every line transmits the movement of the body through the water; the water parting, rippling, the sensation as it touches the skin, the resistance and ease. Another influence on the colours and marks is the humidity, chlorine smell and echoing sounds of the pool and swimmers.

An excerpt from a conversation between John Skinner and Emily Ball (May 2011). Taken from the Emily Ball at Seawhite blog: www.emilyballatseawhite.co.uk

Emily: “they (the scribbled paintings ) have made me more excited about drawing while my children are swimming. I can see my paintings in the pool as they swim”

John: “Paint, painting is revelatory in its true nature. When one is truly painting the act of making the painting uncovers the subject. It seems to me that what you have seen when you look at your children swimming in the pool and see your paintings is a reality that was not available to you before you started to make those paintings and would not be available to you now if you had not allowed yourself to be courageous enough to abandon your accepted methods and scribble your way into this unforeseen possibility.”

The grand scribble – the scribble is the subject – becomes the subject – somehow gets into all the subjects – is not subject to the subject – finds other subjects – that are the subject.