two very small abstract paintings on canvas, created especially for the harleston gallery's christmas art exhibition (see more small paintings created for this art show in the previous post)...
this is a very small painting measuring about 12cm square, in oxide orange-red, black, brown, grey and white textural striations. the subtly layered, mostly neutral hues (aside from the wide band of red) suggest muted elements of winter with a seasonal accent of red. at first, i wanted to call this canvas 'brickish' as i liked the sound of the word (but i am not sure it even exists), but i have decided to name it 'redland', because i was also thinking of greenland (where some believe santa claus lives)
[redland, 2011]
...more rustic minimalism, with a more neutral palette of colours... textured, weathered stripes in dark brown-black, putty, grey blue, white and light grey. this small, square canvas also measures about 12cm square and its title is 'barnwood'....
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[barnwood, 2011]...
click to see more small abstract paintings in the harleston gallery's christmas exhibition......if you live in norfolk (or suffolk), do visit out the harleston gallery, as there is an abundance of unique art & handmade crafts to browse, from small paintings and prints to ceramics, textiles and jewellery. they have a lovely café too. i thoroughly recommend the greek walnut cake with cinnamon syrup - it was delightful!harleston gallery christmas show, 1 – 24 december 2011, harleston gallery, norfolk...
unwrapped, art for christmas
a short while back i was invited to contribute some small art for a christmas exhibition.
so, i made these, especially... diminutive free-standing square abstracts on canvas, which will be in the 2011 christmas art exhibition at the harleston gallery.last year's bumper christmas show was a great success, despite the hard times, perhaps because it was a welcoming, dynamic & eclectic mix of mostly small art without the usual detached sparseness of most art exhibitions (much as i like minimalism). there is also a communal spirit among local artists and it feels like a collaborative celebration of our efforts - and to exhibit work with artists who have become friends is always nice.below are a few more pictures of the very small square abstracts. i enjoyed creating these small abstracts, a return to a minimalist-style interaction of colours, stripes and textures - even though i am now pursuing more naturalistic elements in my current work.i have painted the sides & edges of the canvas white which gives the illusion of a frame, in contrast to the 'wrap-a-round-the-sides' method i previously utilised in the icons series of small abstracts. so, i'm affectionately calling these small abstracts unwrapped art for christmas. the paintings measure about 11cm x 11cm, (they are now at the gallery, ready for the opening of the exhibition later in the week)...
i would describe these striated colours as parchment, copper, darkest blue-black, light bark brown & mustard yellow ochre, which are framed by the matte white edges of the block canvas...
this could be an abstract landscape, it could be something else, it's the relationship of colours that i like (which do arise out of the landscape) but i often change my mind which way they should stand - but i think that's ok...
and yes, this small canvas does have a title.......
on this second canvas, there are textured striations of a dark walnut brown-black, pale sand-stone, dark red & orange. below are the two small canvases pictured side by side, once again. i wish i had more time to make more mini-art......i think artists can be forgiven for partaking in the seasonal spirit of showing & selling at christmas art exhibitions. art will always make a unique & lasting gift, it obviously supports artists in what they do but it also benefits independent, local businesses in the process. so, art is for always really, not just for christmas.i also have some work in the christmas exhibition at the reunion gallery (details below). it seems that mixed or group exhibitions ebb and flow with the seasons, with christmas often the busiest time...christmas show, 1 - 24 december 2011, harleston gallery, norfolka touch of frost, to 24 december 2011, reunion gallery, felixstowe, suffolk
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earthbound
i have been looking through a (not so black) hole again. from this secret perspective this painting's surface looks rather like a malformed, distant planet...
somewhere high above, looking through a porthole, slowly coming into land (again)...
and below, closer to terra firma...
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earth/bound II, 2011, 30cm x 30cm, mixed media on panelearth/bound II is one of a series of new works on panel, and this work will be included in the annual artworks exhibition, a group exhibition of the work of thirty East Anglian artists, which runs from 10 september to 2 october 2011 (10am - 5pm, open daily)...why have i called this work 'earth/bound'? (with a forward slash, denoting and/or)put simply, its matter is of the earth, it is both created from the earth and it goes back to the earth - and here it appears to be grounded. bound is an intriguing word in the english language because as well as implying containment or enclosure, something confined or restricted, or bound by the ties of duty or responsibility, conversely it also implies a free or sudden movement, bounding off, heading off, towards or travelling back. this mix of meanings and interpretations seemed very relevant, in the strata or layers of personal significance, the context of its making is everything - but there is also something else breaking through the surface (something for another day).i have only shown a small glimpse of this work in progress so as to generate some intrigue prior to the opening of the artworks exhibition. i am looking forward to showing some new artwork in 2011. i am not sure if this work, 'earth/bound' should really be termed a painting, as it is more of a wall-based carved relief or construction, a flat(tened) sculpture....imagination will often carry us to worlds that never were, but without it we go nowhere.carl sagan...if you are intrigued to see the 'whole' of 'earth/bound', you might have to visit the 12th annual artworks exhibition (where there will also be new art from twenty nine other east anglian artists).entry to the artworks exhibition is free and there is lots of free parking. there will also be a smaller gallery 'shop' with a dynamic display of small paintings, original prints, drawings, collage, glass, ceramics and a range of artist cards for sale.…
earth/bound II, 2011, 30cm x 30cm, mixed media relief on panel…
...artworks annual exhibition, blackthorpe barn, rougham, suffolk, 10 september to 2 october 2011 (10am - 5pm, open daily)Artworks is a professional art group of thirty contemporary East Anglian artists. Each September we have an annual showcase exhibition in the historic setting of Blackthorpe Barn in Suffolk....p.s. i also have some new pieces of work in the Reunion Gallery's 'Refresh' tenth anniversary exhibition, on right now up until 22 Oct 2011 (it's a fabulous contemporary art space run by two professional artists, verena daniels & pat todd, who work in glass and ceramics respectively)....