'Colour Matters' by Elaine Coles at Southbank Printmakers

We are excited and delighted to be hosting Elaine Coles's vibrant and dynamic work in the gallery from 2nd May for two weeks.

Elaine is one of those multi-talented individuals who can work in different mediums, her favourites being pottery and printmaking.  To see her pottery, you may have to seek her out in her studio in Chobham High Street, Woking, or catch her at one of the many craft fairs she attends.  You can also look on her website and discover more about her and her influences........

.......Meanwhile, back at Southbank Printmakers, Elaine will be showing gems such as this

Red Sky at Night

and this

Both beautiful images vividly inspired by her time in Botswana

Elaine's departure into printmaking is recent and she is currently experimenting with both traditional and digital printmaking techniques.  This exhibition is typical of her current work. Using the landscape to inspire her, she creates traditional monoprints using layers of colour and texture.  She then photographs the print and transfers it on to the computer and using Photoshop she adds more layers of texture and colour which she blends and manipulates until the final result is achieved. She prints this onto fine art paper.  Elaine sometimes prints on top of the print to create an even more original piece of art.
The prints are limited to editions of 5

The results of this innovative printmaking endeavour are, as you can see, quite stunning and even more so in the original.  So we hope you will mark this rather special exhibition on your calendar and join us in the gallery between the hours of 11.30 - 18.30, Sunday to Friday and 11.30 to 20.00 on Saturday.

'Come live with me and be my love.....'

Only 5 days to go to that special day and we have some amazing gifts for your loved ones.....Whether it's hearts and flowers you are looking for or something more eclectic we have a proliferating collection of beautiful images.

'Love on the Thames' - Theresa Pateman

Earth has not anything to show more fair:
Dull would he be of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty:

Ann Burnham's beautiful tulips

And I will make thee beds of roses 

And a thousand fragrant posies; 

A cap of flowers and a kirtle 

Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle.

'Hot Daffs' - Lucie Green

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills
And dances with the daffodils.

'Flying Kisses' - Hill Scott

What is love? 'Tis not hereafter,
Present mirth hath present laughter,
What's to come is still unsure.
In delay there lies no plenty,
So come kiss me sweet and twenty,
Youth's a stuff will not endure.

'Tryst' - Barbara Jackson

Alas and is there no remedy ?
But have I thus lost it wilfully ?
I wis it was a thing all too dear
To be bestowed, and wist not where :
It was mine heart, I pray you heartily
Help me to seek.

'He Loves Me' Jane Daniell

Come and see us at the Gallery!

Excitement!...... Lizy Bending!

We are very excited to host Lizy Bending's work in our gallery. From 19th January you will be able to see her fascinating and provocative woodcuts  and we believe that you will be as impressed as we are with her images which range from the topical to the decorative.

This vivacious woodcut 'Educate, Empower, Employ' is an example of her work which draws the viewer in to a social commentary. Lizy tells us "Through my work I want to make issues surrounding politics, society, culture and the economy accessible to all. Through visual imagery I plan to break down the boundaries that many feel exist, isolating them from interacting with these subjects. Combining print media with the construction of objects, my practice aims to provoke discussion, using emotive aesthetics that transform socio-political concepts into visually stimulating bodies of work."

Lizy is no stranger to the world of exhibitions.  She has participated in more than twenty shows in the past three years, many of which she has curated.

This image 'Mangalyaan Orbiter is, to me, a celebration of the successful mission to Mars and conveys the marvel of this Indian achievement whilst at the same time transforming it in to something we can all enjoy. Lizy says "...communication in our contemporary society is driven by technology, therefore my latest works try to embrace this..."

I am very drawn to these intricate tiles - the repetition of certain shapes in a subtly random background makes them very appealing and satisfies a personal discomfort I feel with symmetry in certain settings.  The colours too, are pleasing.

So if you would like to see more of Lizy's work we will welcome you at Southbank Printmakers.  Her exhibition is from Monday 19th to Sunday 1st February and we have a large quantity of work from our own printmakers for you to browse as well.  We are open
Mon to Fri and Sunday: 11.30 – 5pm.  Saturdays 10.00 – 7.00pm

Focus on Federico!

Federico Baca was born in Jujuy, a town in North Argentina, in the foothills of the Andes. Following studies in Buenos Aires, he travelled extensively in the East and lived in Barcelona where he collaborated with other artists.

Now settled in England, he continues to paint, illustrate and print from his garden studio, looked on quizzically by his two cats and a visiting city fox!

He was commissioned to design children’s furniture (Fairytale furniture), with accompanying story books (which now have a place at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London) and to illustrate a language book for Amharic speakers (Hahu Books).  His eclectic interests also extend to mural painting in private homes and schools, where he has participated in workshops, as well as creating theatre sets (Donmar Warehouse, 2007) and visual merchandising (Papertaste Exhibition, 2004 (RK Burt Gallery; Plum Art 2003-2013). He joined the Southbank Printmakers in 2013.

He is inspired by artists as diverse as Hundertwasser, Xul Solar, Wayne Thiebaud and Svankmajer, excited by exploring magical worlds of Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities and music inspired by the East.

Federico also practices Buddhist mindfulness and meditation, loves nature and animals, and wants his art to connect people with their inner imagined worlds, with the beauty of nature and with their own creative spirit, whatever that may be.

His images make me think of the Buddhist Bhavachakra - the Wheel of Life - in their mandala-like format.  I wonder if this is intended, or whether it is his subconscious making itself felt?

See what you think!

 

Federico's work can be seen at our gallery  Mon to Fri and Sunday: 11.30 – 6.30pm Saturdays 10.00 – 8.00pm along with wonderful work from 40 printmakers.......