Fudge Boxes and Hotel Rooms

You’ll be familiar with impressionist paintings from fudge boxes and hotel rooms walls around the world, yet this most ubiquitous and inoffensive of painting styles was once a radical movement that shocked the French art establishment.

Rather than trying to show reality in a photographic style, the impressionists wanted to give an “impression” of a more authentic experience of reality, by depicting the interplay of movement, light and colour. Impressionist paintings are very painterly – this means that they are loosely painted with visible brush strokes.  There’s often a strong focus on light, colour and shadow, as opposed to line and form.

Impression, Sunrise (1872) by Claude Monet

The 1874 Exhibition
The term “impressionism” comes from Claude Monet’s painting titled “Impression, Sunrise” (pictured), exhibited in 1874, and here’s how it happened.
In 1874, a group of artists in Paris calling themselves the Anonymous Society of Painters, Sculptors, Printmakers etc. put on an exhibition. The society included (now) great names such as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Camille Pissarro.

The critical response was mixed, and Cezanne and Monet came in for the harshest critical scrutiny. A scathing review appeared in the newspaper Le Charivari that was critically titled “The Exhibition of the Impressionists”, of which the gist was that the works were merely impressions of real art, and could not be considered any more than sketches.

The artists, who were unified by a spirit of rebellion and independence, accepted the name, and it quickly gained ground with the public. Although the newspaper article title was intended to deride, it gave the movement name which has stuck fast for over a hundred years, and is now associated with some of the greatest and most valuable paintings of the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

Le Moulin de la Galette (1876) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Allegedly it is actually summer at the moment. Whether you’re getting some sunshine or not, these summer-themed original paintings are sure to create a sunshiney mood in your home or office.

Nirvana by Simon Kenny
Reach a divine state with Simon Kenny’s Nirvana, which brings Turner’s seascapes to mind. Simon is a multi-award winning artist who aims to balance materialism and spiritualism through lyrical abstraction. He uses his artistic process to better understand his experience of the human condition and has sold to multiple public and private clients around the world.

Nirvana by Simon Kenny

Cresting by Denise Allen

Surf’s Up with Cresting by Denise Allen. Denise’s travels in Menorca and Bermuda have informed her fresh and inspiring seascapes. She teaches watercolour painting, including regular watercolour painting holidays in Menorca.

Cresting by Denise Allen

Langdale by Lita Narayan

Lita Narayan’s Langdale brings to mind the quiet of lazy summer days spent in the countryside. With its warm colour scheme and relaxed feel it’s the perfect choice for a living room or bedroom.

Langdale by Lita Narayan

Sutton Church by Alice P Jenkins

Alice P Jenkins’ painting immediately evokes the English countryside. Fresh, bright colours and a whimsical style make this a good choice for a quirky contemporary interior, perhaps displayed in salon style with other works.  Alice loves to paint from life, en plein air.

Sutton Church by Alice P Jenkins

Virginian by Irina Rumyantseva

Virginian by Irina Rumyantseva is a fabulously textured painting with strong colours that compliment each other beautifully. As a contemporary abstract painting, suggestive of landscape, it would work perfectly in a corporate interior or modern home. Irina says “When I paint I pour my emotions out onto the canvas and convey the beauty that I see in everyday life in a way that others can see it to.  When I finish a piece I am filled with a sense of accomplishment and integrity. ”

Virginian by Irina Rumyantseva

Graduate shows are *the* way to learn about the work of the latest up and coming artists and see original art by future stars. If you’re in London or Manchester, pop along to these shows by recent grads of Blackpool & The Fylde College BA Photography.

 

By Susie Brady

Illume:

Illume is an exhibition featuring the photography of this year’s graduates of Blackpool & The Fylde College. Over 40 students have been working hard to produce their very best work for the show. The students’ work covers many different genres of photography, so there will be something to interest every visitor. From experimental to documentary, Fashion to Fine Art, this work represents emerging photographers from the North West and should not be missed.

Hosted in the recently refurbished Hoxton Gallery in London over a week in June 2012, visitors can expect an exciting selection of photographs, presented in a wonderful location, and of course a warm welcome from the students.

‘Illume’
Hoxton Gallery, London
12-18 Hoxton Street
London
N1 6NG

June 26th – 29th
Tue-Thu 10-5, Fri 10-2.30
Industry Private Viewing on Tuesday 26th, 6-8pm.

Website: www.illu.me.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/events/219886648129853/

By Lynn Brown

Infectious

Infectious is a show highlighting the work of the graduates of the Creative Arts Department of Blackpool & The Fylde College. The students in the final year of BA(Hons) Photography have created their best work and are excited to present it at Cube Gallery.

Cube Gallery is in the centre of Manchester and is the perfect space for showcasing the work. Visitors can expect to see a selection of the best work of the emerging photographers of the North West.

‘Infectious’
Cube Gallery, Manchester
113-115 Portland Street
Manchester
M1 6DW

June 16th – 21st
Sat 12-5, Mon-Thu 12-5.30
Industry Private Viewing on Tuesday 19th, 6-8pm.

Website: www.infectious2012.co.uk/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/219886648129853/