Guildford Arts is holding its 39th exhibition at Clyde&Co Guildford from 1st March to 19th May 2012. This is not a public exhibition, although viewing arrangements may be made by contacting the organiser. More information here.
I was pleased to accept an invitation to the private viewing of Art@Clyde&Co on 1 March 2012. Exhibiting artists at this exhibition are Caroline Jackman, Charlie Rickett, David Puttick, Jose Nieves, Owen Ward, Paul Gunn, Robyn Horsburgh, Roger Dellar and Shauna Stanton. All these artists' profiles are available on the Guildford Arts website. The subjects are varied (from city scenes, to female form, scientific drawings, flowers and animals) and using different media (watercolour, spray paint, acrylic, oil, glue!), so something to appeal to everyone. There are fifty-nine works of art on display, most for sale.
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I spent time talking to Owen Ward, a local artist who has produced a series of engaging, magical flower paintings, slightly chaotic, vibrantly coloured and textured. Owen describes his recent work as spontaneous, with inspiration taken from the hedgerows and countryside around his studio in Elstead.
There are six of Owen's pieces on show, with two larger paintings shown in reception, seemingly a little disjointed from the rest of the exhibition.
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| The Christmas Tree, watercolour, Shauna Stanton, £550 |
I really enjoyed studying Shauna Stanton's delightful, original pieces in watercolour. They are multi-layered, colourful, detailed paintings of humans and creatures. The image here probably doesn't do it justice, because it needs close inspection.
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| Melodrama and Mischief, oil on canvas, Charlie Rickett, £600 |
We were treated to an introductory talk by Charlie Rickett from Godalming. Charlie explained the inspiration for her current works, expressions of female form and performance. In this painting, Charlie explained, the subject fills the space of the canvas, as if it is bursting out.
This is a strikingly large piece which could have done with a bit more space, to step back and appreciate it.
Robyn Horsburgh has painted glorious, over-large flowers, simply titled Clematis, Cala Lilies, Arum Lilies, Blue Iris; but my favourite was Robyn's Back View of Reclining Nude.
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| Back View of Reclining Nude, mixed media on canvas, Robyn Horsburgh, £650 |
Unfortunately, what I thought ought to be a hung in partnership with this, Sitting Nude, was not available to view as it was in a private meeting room.
Local artists and art-lovers will no doubt already be aware of Caroline Jackman's work, characterised by her paintings of farm animals. Her cows are lovely beasts. In this exhibition she displays How, When and What, three of the most curious cows. Caroline also supports new artists through her own shows and website.
Overall, this was a perfectly pleasant couple of hours browsing and chatting to other artists. The environment is a little odd, being in a working law office, but art must be shown wherever it can, good on Clyde&Co for promoting Guildford Arts in this way.
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