Blackburn Art Gallery

Our brief  was to visit the gallery and choose one or two exhibits which we felt particularly drawn to, for whatever reason, something that really 'spoke' to us, and which we could somehow 'draw' on as a starting point for our future projects, exploring various angles and points of particular interest.   

We needed something which we could base the core  of our future work on, experimenting and exploring within the course framework, and within the parameters set of 'GRIDS, LAYERS and REFLECTIONS.  Our choices will form the base for our choice of research and idea development for various future projects.

 There were many Paintings and exhibits I enjoyed,  I found the painting of HETTY SORREL by John Collier, very powerful and intriguing.  The lady looks so very distressed, and of course reading the story of the painting you can understand the anguish she has to face.



Hetty Sorrel



I was fascinated by the tiny, Chinese Lotus Shoes, imagine the pain inflicted for the children, and as grown women, to achieve this look.  It makes me wonder about the obsession we have with our footwear.  We tend to think that desiring shoes and having the latest style  is a modern phenomenon, but this is clearly not the case, and perhaps it was even more important centuries ago, as this extreme act would seem to suggest.  Today we may desire beautiful shoes, with a famous Designer name,  but would we go to such extremes to obtain the 'Perfect' look.

Whilst going around the Art Gallery, I did feel myself drawn to a particular painting.  Not because I liked it, but because it puzzled me slightly. 

The painting is called  HARDY of CHELSEA GREEN by Philip Connard.

HARDY of CHELSEA GREEN by Philip Connard RA

I kept looking at this painting for three reasons I think.  It intrigued me so much, as I believe the image  resembles a man dressed as a woman.  I also think the outfit looks slightly over-the-top, as though the fancy dress box has been raided, and all available items have been put to use, having said that, I find the patterns and colours on the shawl and scarf interesting and vibrant.

I also found the cases of Bugs and Beetles quite fascinating.  The variations of texture, tones and patterns on the creatures are so enormous.  The colours quite amazing, as were the cases of butterflies and moths at Manchester Natural History Museum.

I think there is such a wealth of possibilities to be found from looking at them.  They are a wonderful source of reference.

They also reminded me of being a little girl, when I used to collect small green beetles and ladybirds, and keep them in a sellotape tin.

This is just a small selection of the beetles, which I find so inspirational.  The patterns on their shells, the colours and textures will provide me with such a huge wealth of ideas.

Free Art In The North West

We had an interesting talk from Richard Cross today, as he informed us where we could visit  Free to enter Art Galleries.

He advised on Manchester, Whitworth, TATE Liverpool, Walker Liverpool, Townley Hall at Burnley, Blackburn Art Gallery and the Harris Art Gallery at Preston.

The Walker Gallery at Liverpool has, apparently got the largest collection outside of London, and also hosts the JOHN MOORES Art Prize, which has been awarded in past years to Jack Smith, John Bratbury and Jackson Pollock.



The House By The Canal by Algernon Cecil Newton 1945



Richard showed us a few exhibits from the different Galleries, and I was particularly keen on this painting at the Harris Museum & Art Gallery in Preston.  It is called The House By The Canal by Algernon Cecil Newton, it is Oil on Canvas painted in 1945.

I feel drawn to this picture as it doesn't feel 'right' somehow.  The house looks like a shining white light in an otherwise dull and industrial view, not helped by the dark, overcast skies. Richard explained that the artist often wandered round areas, painting from memory the places he'd seen.  I was keen to view more of his work and went on the BBC Art Site, where I found several of his paintings.



Winter Moonrise Yorkshire  1945 Oil On Canvas





The Surrey Canal, Camberwell  1935 Oil On Canvas

I chose the above two paintings, simply because I felt drawn to them.  The Surrey Canal, Camberwell

does remind me of The House By The Canal, both building just look as though they're in the wrong location somehow.  Winter Moonrise Yorkshire I picked because I love how the full moon lights the scene, reflecting its light on the snow. 

I have visited a few of the Art Galleries previously, and shall be visiting Liverpool next week.



PART ONE - First Few Days

BEACON CENTRE

Have survived the first few mind boggling starting days on the UAL Foundation Art and Design Course.  We have mainly been in the fabulous new, light and airy Beacon Centre, it's a great building and I'm sure will prove a wonderful place to work in.   It's been a busy, hectic and a little bit nerve racking few days.  We've been introduced to the various Tutors, had the plan of the course explained, been given sketch books to record our work and had our introduction to the art of Blogging!

It's a large group of students at the present moment, but this will reduce after a few weeks as we settle into our chosen pathway areas.

The course is made up of 7 pathways:- Fine Art, Visual Communication, 3D Design, Printmaking, Time Based Media, Textiles and Photography.  Initially we shall  be sampling and trying our hand at all the different areas, before settling into our chosen area(s) of interest.

It's all new and exciting, with plenty of things to look forward to over the coming weeks.