What A Year

It's Christmas Eve in the Gallery, outside the sun is shining, a little sea mist is lifting and the boats shift gently on a calm sea. The Docks Choir has just begun the traditional singing of Cornish carols in front of the church.  So it is time to look back on the year and to look forward to the next year.

What a year it has been.  This year we joined forces with Falmouth Art Gallery to complement their exhibition, British Impressionists, with a series of exhibitions of Contemporary Impressionism.  From June to September the gallery was bustling with new shows every two weeks.

We held a very successful exhibition of Watercolours, showcasing this often overlooked and very challenging medium.

We also ventured forth to horizons beyond the Tamar, showing our artists at Bristol and London Affordable Art Fairs and Edinburgh Art Fair.  We throughly enjoyed the very hard work, meeting new collectors, making new friends, selling lots of beautiful paintings and collecting a new artist or two on the way.

To look forward to the New Year, we are continuing the connection with Falmouth Art Gallery with what will be a wonderful exhibition called "Effortless Brushstrokes", which on first glance is a contradiction in terms but as Picasso said "There are painters who transform the sun into a yellow spot, but there are others who, thanks to their art and intelligence, transform a yellow spot into the sun" and that, in a Picasso style nutshell, is what it is all about.

We have a very exciting mixed exhibition at the end of January, "Still Lifes" is a stunning collection of quietly beautiful paintings, a contemporary take on the very rich tradition of still life painting, perfect for the start of the year.
We have taken on some new artists, which I am very excited about and, should you decide to follow this very informative blog, (see the top right corner) I shall be introducing some more studio visit blog posts throughout the year.
Do sign up to get the blog delivered straight to your email and keep in touch with everything that is going on in the gallery and behind the scenes at Beside the Wave.
So all that remains is to wish you the most happy Christmas and a jolly fine New Year from us all at Beside the Wave.

In The Gallery Today

From 10am today, Saturday 17th, Sarah Wimperis will be in the upper gallery painting miniatures in both oils and watercolours on a variety of surfaces.  Come along, take a seat, and watch for a while.

Christmas Updates

White Roses and Pears
by Anne-Marie Butlin
400mm x 400mm
oil on canvas £650

Sarah Wimperis will be painting miniatures.  Using tiny brushes and specially prepared surfaces she will be creating some new but very tiny works of art.  She will also have samples of vellum, ivorine and a very small piece of 10,000 year old mammoth tusk (Mammoth is no longer on the endangered species list) So if you would like to watch for a while, ask questions or even have a little go with the magnifying glasses and minute brushes she will be in the upper gallery from 10am until 5pm on Saturday 17^th December and Thursday 22^nd December.

Dotty Stripy Cup
by Sarah Wimperis
100mm x 100mm
oil on board £150

If you have plans for a special Christmas present,  a  reminder that the last delivery dates for Christmas posting are Monday 19^th of December

Violas in Grannies Teacups
by Emma Dunbar
300mm x 300mm
acrylic and gold leaf on board £575

Guess What...

The colour, it's red.

 There are cold bright frosty nights.

 Lights sparkle against the dark skies.

 But inside all is warm, and red, with special cups, and chocolates.

 Outside the boats are all moored up.

Delicious things to eat

Distant hills are dusted with snow.

Best table cloths are all spread.

An apple right in the toe of your stocking....

Guess What...

Its Christmas at the gallery!

 Come and feast your eyes and feed your soul on many beautiful works of art.  

A million tiny brush strokes fill the upstairs gallery with a show of exquisite small paintings. Downstairs is full of new and exciting work especially gathered in to celebrate the festive season.  Mince pies and mulled wine kick off this lovely burst of joy from 6pm till 8 pm on Thursday 1st December, tonight!

Come and be merry!



Star of The Show

Night View
1500mm x 1200mm
oil on board
by Ashley Hold

We had a very successful show at the Edinburgh Art Fair with our artists and their outstanding work being hugely appreciated.  We were extremely proud of the caliber of the work that Beside The Wave represents and it was a genuine pleasure to be able to meet so many people and to talk about the work that we had on show.  The work of Sarah Wimperis flew off the walls, Andrew Tozer's new paintings were very popular, Emma Dunbar's work was much admired as was Robert Jones and Anne Marie Butlin.  Miles Heseltine, as per the Art Fair in London, attracted genuine acclaim from fellow painters and Danny Markey's work was also appreciated.
One painting, it has to be said, was the star of the show.  Night View by Ashley Hold. This attracted so much attention.  People were coming back two or three times to have another look, bringing their friends and having lively discussions about what they could see in the painting, gasps of delight as they spotted yet another nuance and huge admiration for the skill involved in such a complex work of art.
We were delighted to be able to live with this painting for three days and found that it stayed with us long after the show closed each night, informing the way that we looked at, through and beyond the reflections in night windows, creating a still and quiet contemplation of the human condition.  It is a rare thing to be the conduit of such a work of art, and it feels like an honour.

Danny Markey Wins Prize

Stop Press... Danny Markey has won the regional prize for Wales in the ING Discerning Eye Exhibition 2011 with his painting "Blue and White Footballers"

The ING Discerning Eye has built an enviable reputation in the art world. The quality of the selectors has been extremely high, the chosen work of excellent quality. Curators and gallery owners know this and visit the exhibition to spot new talent that can be promoted in their own shows.Discerning Eye Chairman's Statement 2011

The exhibition is on at The Mall Galleries, London until November 20th.
Well done Danny and a great thing to take with us to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Art Fair

By Robert Jones

We are on the road again, this time all the way to Scotland for the Edinburgh Art Fair,.  The sturdy art fair team has only just had time to pack away the packing bags when it is all go again for another exciting few days.  We have lovely new paintings from Emma Dunbar, Andrew Tozer and Sarah Wimperis.

By Emma Dunbar

By Ashley Hold

Some little beauties from Ashley Hold, big and small from Robert Jones, lovely misty creeks from Myles Oxenford, night scapes from Danny Marky, expressive brushstrokes from Miles Heseltine and some intense moods from Ben Warner.  There are some beautiful new paintings from Anne-Marie Butlin and some bold and colourful paintings from Alisdair Lindsay.

As usual it is a privilege to be able to represent our artists and hopefully we will meet a lot of lovely people there.

If you would like complimentary tickets for the private view on Thursday 17th November 2011: 18.30 - 21.30 at The Corn Exchange in Edinburgh then follow this link.  We will be stand number C8.

By Sarah Wimperis

Introducing Richard Stanley

Richard Stanley has very kindly answered all of my irritating questions so well that I am just going to let you read them for your self:
Do you have a working routine?
I’m a workaholic I have to be painting, if I’m not I get fidgety. I love being in the open air, discovering new places.
 How you work?
I enjoy working in the "plein air" tradition; all of my work starts in the landscape. It is this hand’s on approach to painting that I enjoy most, pitting myself against the elements. The spontaneity of working outside, forces me to work quicker to capture the moment, I then like to consider them back in my studio in Devon, and live with them for a while.

This technique provides immediacy and an intimacy with the landscape to which I am responding. The place, the wind and the weather are directly participating in the painting process, as the elements move the paint around the paper. This serendipity of colour and texture result in the most exciting images.
 Why do you work?
I produce these landscape paintings as a form of escapism, just for me, there’s something very elemental about connecting with the landscape in this manner. Just me in a field recording what I see. The landscape is always changing, every day something new to paint, changing weather, light, seasons. You could paint the same scene hundreds of times and no two would be the same.

I draw inspiration from the colours around me; I enjoy experimenting with mark making and surface texture, Appling paint in a manner that captures the landscape. I always feel excited about those unexpected, what I call ‘happy mistakes’ when something doesn’t go to plan, but you discover a new way of working because of it.
Artistic influences
I take influence from a diverse set of artist movements from the Impressionists, Sisley, Monet and Pissarro to the Abstract Expressionists, De Kooning, Pollock, Auerbach, Kossoff. I also like the application of paint of Tai-Shan Schierenberg and Lucian Freud.  On a more local level, Cornwall has a wonderful artistic heritage, the Newlyn School for example Stanhope Forbes, Henry Scott Tuke and co.
Having lived in and around the Falmouth area during my student days at Falmouth College of Arts, It’s been wonderful to get back to some of my old haunts, I have spent a lot of time living in this landscape and have some great memories and I think this is evident in the body of work I have produced. It’s been interesting to take a fresh look at these landscapes my passion for them still as strong as ever.

What do you listen to while working?
I have an eclectic taste in music. The Music I listen to when I’m  painting can set the pace of the painting so It largely depends what type of painting I’m doing; if it’s something semi-abstract then I will listen to something up-tempo, likewise if I’m painting something more descriptive I would probably be listening to something slower.
What make of paints do you use.
Various, I often use Old Holland Classic Oil Colour and Michael Harding Artists Oils both of these have excellent colour strength and are very light- fast.

Your desert island piece of art equipment, i.e. what are you never without?
Most artists carry sketch books with them, I never go out in the car without realms of paper, canvas and paints, ready to climb over a gate if something catches my eye, so it’s difficult to choose just one, but if pushed I would say the trusty old pencil, often under rated but extremely versatile as a medium and lightweight too!
What ticks your boxes and what doesn't?
I’m attracted to non- aesthetic painters, I like paintings which just tips over the edge from something with is “pretty” to something with a bit more gravitas.
My own work is becoming increasing concerned with surface texture and mark making; oil is applied wet on wet, thicker and more directly, producing an intermingling and interaction of colour. The paint is pushed and pulled with great movement and energy using pallet knifes and rapidly applied brushstrokes, working with great immediacy to capture the fleeting transient qualities light and the essence of the landscape. The work is more than just a record of the environment; it also represents my connection with the landscape
What do you take in your sandwiches when you go painting?
Never Sandwiches always pasty’s, I love them, probably my favourite food. The best pasty I ever had was home-made and about a foot long, I won’t tell you who made it for me but you know who you are (Gaby), It did take me two sittings to finish it though!

What is your studio like?
Organised chaos (my girlfriend would probably dispute the first part of that statement). The studio is somewhere for finishing touches for me really I like to look at the work fresh and tweak back in the studio.
Where do you get your materials?
Various suppliers, I get a lot from my local art supply store.
When did you start painting and why?
I have always drawn and painted since a child, I started painting with oils when I was about thirteen having been painting with watercolours and acrylics for some time prior to that. Whilst studying for my degree I was living in Constantine, and was tempted out into the landscape with my paints of paper and haven’t looked back since.
Did your mum or dad paint or did they think you were wasting your time?
No, they never thought I was wasting my time, I’m very lucky in that my parents have always been supportive of my painting career. To be honest it’s not really something that ever came into question, I’ve always painted so there were no surprises that it has become my means of making a living. The Artistic gene shows up on both sides of my family, my mother is artistic and my paternal grandfather was very artistic too. My partner Amy Hearn also has always been very supportive; we trained together at Falmouth and she now also practices as an artist and degree level lecturer, although we have too very different styles.
Mentors?
Respected Cornwall based artist Gary Long was my Life drawing tutor whilst at Falmouth College of Arts his work has always inspired me and I still keep in touch with him to this day. But I have always pushed myself and most of the techniques I now incorporate have resulted from my own independent experimentation.

Introducing Ashley Hold

Opening tonight we have an exhibition of the work of five artists, showing for the first time at Beside the Wave.  These  artists are all well established on the contemporary art scene  and we are very pleased to be able to include their work in the gallery. 

I shall attempt a blog introduction to each of them over the next few posts.  The first to cooperate with my nosy questioning is Ashley Hold.  He  is an academician of the Royal West of England academy, has had work accepted for the BP portrait award, exhibited in the Hunting Arts Prize, the discerning eye among others.  He is also a lecturer at university college Falmouth.

His paintings are simply beautiful, quietly melancholic with an enormous sense of place.  Often painting in the evening or at night he describes the search for some mental space as being very important. 

The paintings have the nature of a daydream, a moment when one gets lost between two worlds, awake in  the middle of the night, caught staring both at and through your reflection in a window.  They have a meditative quality and seem to be perfectly resolved.  

    

Paintings, like the parked cars at night can take up to a year, slowly evolving into the final conclusion. 

Imbibed with a  filmic atmosphere, I can almost hear music as I look at them.  A musician, Ashley says that he often switches between painting and playing the piano, so perhaps the music is trapped within the paint.

His teaching seems to aid his painting and he says that this informs his work, influences come from constant study talking about and focusing on new and different disciplines.  Although his style is very consistent there is an openness present in the paintings.  Sometimes, he says, he can search for days for a subject, walking and climbing until it is found then producing many paintings of the same subject as an example the trapped boulder series.

 His studio is a bedroom, easel next to a piano, his bike and computer, it is unassuming and unpretentious.

His paintings are unassuming and unpretentious and absolutely out of this world and very much a part of it, all at once, I am sure that you will enjoy them as much as I have... now to pin down the other artists!

London Affordable Art Fair

We are getting good at this!  Having done the Affordable Art Fair in Bristol in May we felt much more confident as we drove the trusty van along the scenic route, via Dorset and the New Forest, to London.  Obviously an artist's route!  It was our first time at the Affordable Art Fair in London. 
Arriving, unloading and hanging is very hard work but we hit the deadline of 3pm on the Wednesday ready for the press, it was a bit like changing rooms, and our stand looked fantastic.  We all felt very proud of our artists and the work that we were showing.

Miles Heseltine had done some wonderful new paintings, his work attracted a lot of attention and many red dots. Sarah Wimperis and Andrew Tozer also sold extreamly well. Indeed, the influence of a Summer of Contempoary Impressionisim at the Gallery was apparent in their work and hugely appreciated by collectors.

Roy Goodman's evolving style and fresh colours were much commented on. Sarah Wimperis developed a fantastic selling plan which involved buying ceramics from other stands and then believing that this would help sell her own work.  It worked!  She also managed to very succesfully represented the other artists as well!!

Our stand was resplendant with a catalogue on an iPad and QR codes and a book full of red dots. We met up with a lot of our London based collectors and many new ones.
Now armed with even more Art Fair confidence we are heading for Edinburgh Art Fair in November, only three weeks away, paint, artists...paint!

A Celebration of Watercolour.

All too often watercolour painting is overlooked and under-represented in many galleries today which is why we at Beside The Wave have taken the bold step in hosting a glorious celebration of watercolour. A number of our artists are experts in this exacting discipline, and now their work in watercolour can be seen and enjoyed in this special exhibition.

Watercolour is often seen as the poor relation to oils, not considered as "proper painting" by some.

It is also the first choice of many who are new to painting and yet it remains one of the most difficult mediums to master. 

The clean colours and expert draftsmanship of John Raynes work succeed in  making this art form look effortless.

The exuberant splashes and mark making of Richard Thorn are an emotional response to a multiple textured landscape.

The intimate delicate paintings of Amanda Hoskin are beautifully simple and yet wonderfully complex.

The layered colours that Sarah Wimperis employs give a jewel like luminosity to her work.

The chalky twin of watercolour is gouache and this is exhibited with the expert brushstrokes of  Richard Tuff.

We have a preview of this fascinating exhibition in our upstairs gallery from tomorrow, Saturday 1st of October with the full exhibition opening on Saturday 8th October and running until the 19th.

Paul Lewin

This is a stunning exhibition.  These paintings are so evocative that they can give you vertigo.  Become a gull and soar over turquoise seas above granite cliffs.  Taste the salt in the air and fill your heart with the essence of Cornwall.
Paul Lewin has earned a reputation as one of Cornwall's leading landscape artists.  He seems to have captured Cornwall, bottled it and spread it out onto paper and canvas. He works in the landscape producing works in mixed media perched on the edge of cliffs or on top of wind blasted hills.

Laden down with materials his search for the perfect composition, the best light, the sense of place seems to be relentless and he finds it over and over again.

This is no easy way to make work and although Paul cites the usual suspects, Monet and other Impressionists as influences to the way he works he is also interested in the Abstract Expressionists, their wild use of paint.  Spend some time looking at Paul's work and you can see the skill with which he has applied pigment of all sorts to weave these stories of Cornwall that are his paintings.

What appears to be almost photographic from a distance is in fact the most skillful application of media that seems effortless which of course is part of the skill.  It takes years of dedication to be able to do what he has acheived.   Part of what he is doing by making these paintings is asking us to stop and look.  To see the glow of sand beneath the sea, to watch the softly undulating deep blue shadows of the cliffs on the water.  That is what we owe the artist and the landscape.  To this end he has made a series of soundscapes on his web site where you can look at the work while listening to the sounds that surrounded him as he made the painting. It slows us down, a few moments of stillness to really study and enjoy this wonderful work.

It is a joy to have the opportunity to get up close and personal with this work.  His exhibition is on from the 3rd until the 14th of September.  It is an exhibition not to miss and not something to dash past with a cursory glance, these paintings took time to make and deserve to be enjoyed for a lifetime.