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Tuesday 7 August 2012

Don't mention the "C" word!

It's peak season and the holiday makers are flooding into North Devon or should that be the holiday makers are flooded in North Devon? After a week of glorious sunshine a few down-pours haven't put off the stoical British tourist and, lets face it, whatever the weather what better place in the World would you want to be? Yes, visitor numbers to the region are down due to a combination of reasons, the desperate state of the economy, the numerous major sporting events this year (always seems to have an effect), not to mention the Olympics and, of course, the weather! It seems that even London (and Weymouth) is experiencing a massive down turn in regular visitors and businesses reliant on the tourist trade are suffering. Despite the tremendous performance by the British athletes perhaps the streets of London are not paved with gold, eh?

As I was saying, the summer season is in full swing which means a busy time at West Gallery and, of course, we are in the middle of our Summer Exhibition which runs until the end of August. If you've not been yet you're missing out, come and have a look and remember art is not only a good investment but therapy too! There, the answer to all your problems!

Now while your all enjoying the Summer Games, the beaches and the beautiful countryside here in North Devon, we are thinking ahead. I apologise in advance as I am about to mention the "C" word... yes, Christmas! What, bloody Christmas in August...! For those of you in advertising this will come as no surprise, familiar with snow, holly and bells whilst in your shorts and flip-flops. It's at this time of year we are planning what happens after the summer months.



The climax to the summer season is always the August bank holiday, the last hoorah before the kids go back to school and always the busiest time of year. In the autumn North Devon Arts will be having an exhibition of members work at West Gallery entitled Secret Spaces... more about that nearer the time, it's still a secret! Then it's the run up to Christmas, and if your sick of socks and smellies and you want something a little bit special, something unique that will bring a genuine smile rather than, "Hmm lovely... that's what I have always wanted..." then you can't do better than something original from West Gallery.

Anyway, lets not wish the summer away just yet...









Monday 23 July 2012

Elvis on the Moon

On the eve of the "Greatest show on Earth", the sun has come out after nearly four months of rain. Coincidence? Have the powers that be behind this spectacle of sport and, of course, commercial extravagance been tinkering with the weather? Ridiculous, I hear you say, but it wouldn't be the first time. It was reported that the Chinese seeded the clouds during the Beijing (that's Peking to us oldies) Olympics to guarantee good weather, not to mention using CGI to embellish their firework display at the opening ceremony. With so much at stake financially it is not beyond the realms of fantasy. If it starts to rain the day after the closing ceremony it will have all the conspiracy theorists jumping about with excitement and citing Elvis Presley, the moon landings and Princess Diana, to mention but a few.


Elvis on the moon... hmm?

Still, I am not complaining, the fine weather is bringing people out in their numbers, our Summer Exhibition is well under way and it has been a fantastic week with lots of artwork being sold to those who appreciate beautiful things. So, if you have not been to the gallery before come and have a look. If you have been, come and see the new work we have exhibited for the summer, it's spectacular and not an Olympic ring in sight... I think.

There's no doubt that there is a sinister side to the commercial aspect of the Olympics and that wearing a Pepsi T-shirt or Nike trainers may get you in trouble with the brand police. Maybe that is why there are missiles on the top of tower blocks, not for terrorists but to obliterate people not conforming to approved dress standards. Fortunately in North Devon we don't have to worry about such things (I say as I nervously look over my shoulder at the thought I may have committed some Olympic crime and any moment now my windows are blown in as commandos clad in black from head to foot pin me to the ground.)

Olympic faux pax

I am not the only one to be worried. I noticed a coffee drinker was putting his liberty in danger when carelessly putting his mug down on a piece of paper. Now, I have the solution to his dilemma, a sort of get out of jail free card. Yes, for only £25 this gentleman could have invested in a set of four superbly hand-crafted glass coasters from West Gallery in a variety of unique designs.




For many more antidotes to the threat of Olympic over zealousness pop into West Gallery and chill out. Remember you are in Devon where the sun always shines, summer lasts for ever, the scenery is stunning and nothing happens too quickly. Oh, and if you are wearing the wrong thing we won't make you strip down to your underwear.


















Monday 16 July 2012

Summer weather

A little bit of a head this morning. A few glasses of wine last night at our Summer Exhibition preview evening. There was a good buzz and a good deal of interest and the sun even graced us with its presence. My mouth is dry from talking, well that's my excuse! Apologies if I didn't get to talk to you I was doing my best to meet everybody.

Now, if you couldn't make it last night don't worry, the exhibition is on until 27th August and we're open from 10am til 5pm seven days a week, so come on down and have a look at some fantastic new work from a diverse range of artists and makers.

For those of you that weren't there last night I was going to post some images of the work here but then I thought no, you need to get out more! Come and see everything for real, enjoy the experience and the feeling that art can bring you. Goodness knows we all need a bit of cheering up at the moment with this weather. (Damn, I mentioned the weather again).

Still, you might have to be quick, it's already been a busy day today, and pictures are selling fast despite the atrocious weather (sorry!). So, if you've got your eye on something pop in and have a chat, I might even put the kettle on. If you've not been to our gallery before - and why not? - then you are missing out, even if I do say so myself. Don't worry, we are not stuffy and pompous, I'm sure you've worked that out by now, and there's no hard sell. We just enjoy showing beautiful things that bring a little bit of pleasure to people's lives at an affordable price.

So whether (no, that doesn't count) you want to treat yourself  because you deserve it or you would like to find a unique gift for someone special or you just want to have a look round, West Gallery is really worth a visit.

It's beginning to clear now... that's my head not the weather! Did I mention the weather? May just have got away with it.

Monday 9 July 2012

Summer outlook is good

It's a British preoccupation, it's a conversation opener, it's a constant source of discussion. Yes, it's the weather. As if to prove my own point avid blog fans will remember me talking about it in April, twice in fact! You may remember me deriding the so called drought after a week of sunshine in March, almost four months ago. On the day the drought is officially over (yes really), believe it or not, we have not had a week without rain since March! The hares are not only mad, they're hopping!


March hare by Beverly Madley


Now the hosepipe ban is lifted nationwide we are free to water our gardens, yeah right! Still, maybe this heralds the start of summer and I sincerely hope so. The effect on the South West region has been a reduction in visitor numbers which has been compounded by the bleak economy.


However, I remain ever optimistic that the sun will get its hat on and by the end of August the talk of floods will be a distant memory. In fairness, most visitors that I have spoken to are quite stoical and are enjoying the beautiful Devon countryside regardless of the weather. A lady came into the gallery last week from Nevada in the United States with a tan that would make Dale Winton look anaemic and found the climate quite refreshing after being used to day after day of baking sunshine back at home. Thanks for rubbing it in!


With the school summer holidays almost upon us we can look forward to wall-to-wall sunshine and thousands of visitors enjoying the balmy conditions. And to make things even better West Gallery's Summer Exhibition starts on 16th July through to 27th August with many of the artists drawing inspiration from the beautiful Devon scenery and the dramatic skies that the weather provides us with. Definitely worth a look.


Wellies by Rob Walker


Whether it be wellies or flip-flops one thing I can forecast is that we will have something to brighten your day at West Gallery, the outlook is good for the rest of the summer. Right, I'm off to water my plants, because I can!



Monday 2 July 2012

New balls please!

Ah yes, champagne, strawberries and cream, it must be Wimbledon. Attention turns to SW19 or maybe that should be MK1...? Yes, memories of Vinnie Jones, Lawrie Sanchez, John Fashanu and the rest of the Crazy Gang seem distant with the metamorphosis into the MK Dons. What? You thought I was going to talk about tennis? Sorry!


It evokes memories of some classic encounters and none more famous than illustrated by the iconic photograph of Vinnie Jones grappling with Gazza.


Vinnie goes for the tackle on Gazza


My interest in tennis, I'm afraid, goes no further than another iconic photo 'Tennis Girl' taken by the late Martin Elliott which is the world's best selling photograph with over 2 million copies sold. The mystery of who the enigmatic girl was remained a secret for over 25 years.


Cheeky! The mysterious Fiona Butler in 1976


Some photographs have the ability to capture an image or a moment in time that are ingrained in our minds forever, I mean, who is not familiar with the two images above? A well taken photograph is about feeling (as Gazza will testify!), about capturing the mood, about what you can't see, it can tell a story. As they say, a picture paints a thousand words.


In these days of digital photography and phones with cameras everybody thinks they are David Bailey but good photography is an art that only a few can achieve successfully.


Award winning local photographer Tim Onyon captures and creates action based images covering motor sport and equestrian events throughout the South West. His often dark and subdued style invites the viewer to pause and explore further the subtle detail present in all his work. Tim uses creative techniques developed by himself which take the original imagery to an entirely new level. Tim's photographs can be seen at West Gallery at our Summer Exhibition starting on 16th July 2012.




So remember, next time you get your iphone out and give it lock, stock and two smoking barrels there's a bit more to it than point and click!


C'mon Tim!




















Wednesday 27 June 2012

Don't fiddle!

Finally found some time to get the oil paints out and start painting, hence the blog being late, well something's got to give, there's only 24 hours in a day! A bit rusty but eventually got into the flow... then the phone rang! I'm one of those sorts of artists that needs complete solitude, no noise and no damn interruptions. So I tend to work late into the night, sometimes until the sun comes up. It's wonderful, perfect silence, intense concentration, completely focused, just me, my two black labradors asleep at my feet and the comforting waft of turpentine.


I like to paint people, country folk in their natural habitat. Drawing on memories and experiences from growing up on the farm and the alluring characters that I come across in rural Devon. I try to capture moments that are natural, not posed or contrived, sort of fly on the wall stuff (without any walls!). Hopefully the end result is a picture of rural life, often a private moment, shared with the viewer, as if you were there.


First stage, drafting the figures in burnt umber


I start the painting by working out the composition and the drafting out the figures in raw umber, building up the shadow areas. It's always easier to paint pictures with sunshine as it gives you a positive light source direction, you can't go wrong. For this particular painting it was a dull day with a more even light so a little bit trickier to show depth and drama but it suited the subject. I wash in a background colour and gradually the picture builds up layer by layer.


Now, here's the important bit, and after thirty years plus I still struggle with it. Don't overwork it, be bold and confident with you brush stroke but don't fiddle. I said don't fiddle! This only comes with regular practice which in turn gives you the confidence. The key is knowing when to stop. I should practice what I preach!


To find out how the finished painting turns out (assuming that I'm not still fiddling about with it) come along to our Summer Exhibition at West Gallery from 16th July to 27th August 2012.


Anyway, I detect a glow in the sky and a lone blackbird is clearing his throat, I had better turn in, I will have to open the gallery in a few hours. Now does that jacket need a little more highlight? I'll just...

Monday 18 June 2012

Euro vision?

I have a theory. It came to me after watching the first round of matches at Euro 2012 and it occurred to me that the success of each nation's football team may directly correlate to their political and financial status. You don't buy it? Well, it may not be the soundest theory but consider this.


Greece were in terrible trouble a week ago but have managed to hang on to the Euro(s). You have to give the Greeks credit (well, maybe that's the last thing we should be doing!) but they have made it through. That is, of course, until the Germans kick them into touch.


The Italians, corruption abounds, but, hey, let's keep spending and waving our arms about. The French have lurched to the left... the Swedes, well they were never in it (close though!).


Ah, what about the Spanish and the Portuguese, I hear you say? Well don't be fooled, it was only a matter of days ago the Spanish claimed everything was fine only to get a multi-billion euro bailout. Their football world will also come tumbling down sooner than you think. And Portugal? Well, one man can't cover up the weaknesses that lie deeper just with a step-over.


As for the Dutch not long ago one of Europe's stalwarts their dreams now in tatters. Trampled over by the Germans and bickering amongst themselves, even the Dutch Masters from the Premiership contingent of van Persie, Kuyt, de Jong, van der Vaart, et al, as talented as they are, couldn't do anything about it.


Talking of Dutch masters, here at West Gallery we have the talented Dutch artist Bert Bruins who has resided in Devon for the past 20 years. Bert works in acrylic mostly and paints West Country subjects that show the intense beauty of nature, sometimes in close up, sometimes in panorama. Maybe the Dutch are better artists than they are footballers after all.


Northcott Beach, Bude by Bert Bruins


So who is going to stop the Germans dominating Europe? Masses of Germans have poured over the border into Poland consuming all in their path. It will take a determined, plucky team to resist their forcefulness in the face of overwhelming odds. (You know where this is going, don't you?).


Yes, England! (Cue Jerusalem) Only England, backs against the wall and after a decade of political and financial appeasement maybe, just maybe it's time to assert ourselves and keep the Germans in check.


Hey, it's just a theory.