Saturday 24 December 2011

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.

Saturday 17 December 2011

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.

Sunday 11 December 2011

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 17th December and Thursday 22nd 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 19th of December
Violas in Grannies Teacups
by Emma Dunbar
300mm x 300mm
acrylic and gold leaf on board £575

Thursday 1 December 2011

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!