Grey Granite

1978
McLean, John
Born in Liverpool in 1939, McLean studied at the University of St. Andrews and the Courtauld Institute of Art. He has taught at various art schools in London and had his first solo exhibition in Edinburgh in 1975. Colour dominates McLean's work. He paints on a large scale, using viscous paint to create abstract compositions. He describes his approach to painting as follows: 'I start a painting with a rough plan, but as the work develops I adapt the plan or even abandon it altogether. Important as they are, planning and experience are not as crucial as intuition and spontaneity. Like most painters, I depend on luck as well as knowledge... I stop when I think the painting is alive and answering back in some way. The manner in which it does this is always a surprise compared with the notion with which I began'. Charlotte Booth
  • Artwork Details: 203.5 x 158.5cm
  • Edition:
  • Material description: acrylic on canvas
  • Credit line: © the artist
  • Theme: Abstract
  • Medium: Painting
  • Accession number: AC 1924

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The Arts Council Collection is the UK's most widely seen collection of modern and contemporary art.

With more than 8,000 works by over 2,000 artists, it can be seen in exhibitions and public displays across the country and beyond. This website offers unprecedented access to the Collection, and information about each work can be found on this site.