[farmscape i 2010, mixed media on canvas]
[farmscape ii 2010, mixed media on canvas]
[farmscape iii 2010, mixed media on canvas]
[farmscape iv 2010, mixed media on canvas]
[farmscape v 2010, mixed media on canvas]
[farmscape vi 2010, mixed media on canvas]
[farmscape vii 2010, mixed media on canvas]
[and... possibly farmscape viii, in progress in the artist's studio]these paintings are all 60cm x 60cm, unframed...i thought it was time to view some of my abstract farmscape paintings all together - and review some of my thoughts and words about them, as 'quoted' and collected in my artist journal [blog]...what is the philosophy behind the farmscape paintings? they remodulate, within a very reductionist format, both the farmyard and the fieldscape, a mathematical sense of order within an organic surface, as a means to challenge, subvert or recontextualise notions of a pastoral, romantic vision of the rural landscape. i actually view them as blind paintings, the 'images' that a sight-impaired person might conjure up in a touchy-feely, tactile environment devoid of spatial perspective... [this week]the 'farmscapes' are meant to be very cool, sparse paintings, hinting at enclosure, mechanisation, rural industral landscapes, reducing the pattern and structure of agricultural land and its outbuildings to an economic geometry… [03.08.09]another 'farmscape' [working title].. there is no reason to hurry.. it takes time.. and i am a slow painter... [18.08.09]the 'farmscapes' are developing slowly, as i will wait for the cooler hues of autumn and winter to pervade my colouristic senses.. at present they look bereft of true colour – dark olive green, slate grey, ashen blue, taupe.. [25.08.09]with a cooler palette of metallic greys, bronzes and blues… [18.02.10]agriculture depends upon the seasons, and nature through its cyclical changes imparts its own identity on an otherwise structured landscape... [18.02.10]there is a reference to landscape in colour and format, a modulation of stripes hint at the structures of agriculture – a farm (buildings) and its landscape (fields) distilled into one work, when viewed in both the horizontal and the vertical… [28.02.10]the 'farmscapes' have their obvious mechanical, minimalist geometry, but on some days I question their formality, they seem too detached from their source... [08.02.10]this led me to research the origin of the word farm, which as a verb has only been in use since the 19th century, the noun 'farm' derives from the Latin 'firma' meaning ‘fixed payment’ (from the Latin firmare) denoting a lease of land, later specific to agriculture… 'firmare' also leads to the word firmament, a tangible expression of the skies or heavens above… [03.08.09]the landscape of East Anglia, broadly-speaking, with its patchwork pattern of arable fields and reclaimed fenland, especially when seen from above, has all the obvious markings of a rural landscape shaped by man – a factory without a roof... [18.02.10]this review has helped me refocus...
a minor road painting incident
recently spotted in a small norfolk town with an unfortunate name, and i had the camera to document the road works in progress...
a council roadworker with an keen eye for absolute precision in road painting, even if it doesn't entirely match... i was left briefly pondering, is this normal for norfolk*..?
but this wasn't the only painterly road incident. further along this minor road there was another occurence of fresh double yellow line painting... what would this exact colour be in pantone..?
it seems that council yellow comes in many shades, or else it fades very quickly...
and sometimes remedial action is taken later on, in trying to match the original colour...
but i am saving my favourite photograph for last... here in close-up, a unique road work composition in a medley of mellow (and not so) yellow hues, wonderfully crackled textures and mismatching layers, subtly embossed by the pattern of tyre treads, my found painting (or print) of the day...this image has some definite kerb appeal and more than enough art historical references, should one wish to analyse it any further...
this post is written with much reference to and respect for the artist over at the aesthete'sfoot blog, aka the opposite of tomato, an artist who has brought an intriguing, conceptual dimension to what could be loosely termed 'creative kerb crawling' in his two years (or more?) drawing project, to visually document discarded drinks cans in all their myriad convoluted, crumpled and flattened forms - see also the curious incidents of the double black (not yellow) lines.. he now calls himself the darjeeling fop... well, that's the line painting finished - time for a brew..?...*normal for norfolk; a somewhat derogatory slang term used by medics, often shortened to NFN, as a means to identify in the Doctor's patient' notes that the unusual symptoms or behaviour presented maybe the result of the patient being, relatively speaking (so to say), someone wuss abit darf, nut roight in the hed......
i'm in this
it's the reunion refresh... the 2011 gallery catalogue for the very lovely reunion gallery, who are celebrating their tenth year in the art business. i love the retro, mid-century modern typography on the catalogue's cover, the vibrant, lipstick red contrasting with that classic, powdery sky blue. allow me to pore over them for a while, elegantly scattered on the kitchen floor...
[reunion refresh gallery catalogue]and then allow me (or them) to explain...The Reunion Gallery is changing the format of its exhibition programme for the coming 2011 season.The previous format of private views coinciding with specific exhibitions has been replaced with an evolving programme of events throughout the year which will highlight the work of ten participating artists.Instead of staging a number of individual exhibitions we have formed a showcase of the work of artists who have contributed to our progress during the past ten years.The Reunion Gallery & Studio is at the heart of Felixstowe's artists' quarter, just two minutes walk from the main shopping street, at the junction of Gainsborough Road and Constable Road.Resident artists Pat Todd & Verena Daniels are foremost exponents of ceramic and glassware innovation respectively. Visitors to the Reunion Gallery are welcome to visit their adjoining studio to discuss work in progress. Both are members of the prestigious Suffolk Craft Society and have exhibited widely in the UK and Europe. (text abbreviated from the gallery catalogue)the artists featuring in this continually evolving & changing showcase exhibition programme, aside from my good self, jazz green, are: verena daniels & pat todd (resident studio artists), pippa darbyshire, richard kimmerling, alison malcolm, colin slee, ivan quarton, honor surie and wendy brooke smith.
the reunion refresh anniversary exhibition formally opened today and the special exhibition programme continues until late october 2011. the reunion gallery is open tuesday to saturday, 10am - 5pm.aside from perhaps wishing to see some refreshing works of art by the above named artists at the reunion gallery (the displayed artworks will change or refresh throughout the year) here are two other good reasons to visit felixstowe ...landguard fort - now a site of historic interest, the fort was first built to protect the main sea harbour from invaders, as early as 1543, but it has changed much in its design & structure over the centuries. in the twentieth century the fort was used as a military barracks and it even housed a top secret control centre during the ‘cold war’ era. it then fell into a period of disuse and was much neglected until the 1990's when it formally came under the care of english heritage.the port of felixstowe - this port is reputed to be the largest and busiest container port in the whole of the UK... most interesting if you like watching big sea freight containers & ocean ships moving to and fro - much of what we import or export, our trading with other nations, is due to the logistic efficiency of the now ubiquitous cargo container......and here are two more of my wabi sabi bowls because...
i thought they'd complement the cool blue & white theme to this post...
...psst... in late may/june i will be exhibiting with five other abstract painters, a group exhibition currently as yet 'untitled'......