There are plenty of exhibitions and events that are on our ‘must see’ list this summer. One such thing is The Titian Experience, the National Gallery’s mobile cinema which will be appearing at Hay, Grassington, Buxton and Latitude festivals with backing from the Art Fund. The National Gallery acquired the Renaissance master’s Diana and Callisto in 2012, a painting inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses and is thought by many to be one of the most important works in art history. The outside of the mobile cinema will display a reproduction of the painting, alongside two related pieces, Diana and Actaeon and The Death of Actaeon. Inside the mobile cinema visitors will see a short film about Titian’s work and its continuing impact today. An expert from the National Gallery will be present to give an introduction and answer audience questions about the film and the paintings. All in all it sounds like an enjoyable and inventive way of taking art out on the road, and we’re looking forward to catching it on tour.
The summer blockbuster is a regular event now in every art lover’s calendar, and each year brings a bumper crop of shows competing to be the season’s most sought-after ticket. Tate Britain has two offerings sure to delight fans of modern and contemporary painting – parallel exhibitions by Gary Hume and Patrick Caulfield both run from 5 June to 1 September 2013 and entrance to both shows is covered by a single ticket. Visitors are given the chance to view and compare works by two leading British painters from different generations. Caulfield’s bold, colour-filled paintings from the 1960s are often credited with reviving the traditional still life, and Hume is one of the much-talked about Young British Artists to come out of Goldsmith’s College in the 1980s.
Also on the list is London Art Week, which is happening 28 June to 5 July 2013. This new initiative is a large-scale collaboration which brings together Master Paintings Week with Master Drawings and Sculpture Week, uniting more than 50 art dealers and London auction houses. The website will feature a useful map locating all of the participants and links to each of the individual websites, making it easy for buyers and enthusiasts to explore what is on offer. Co-ordinated exhibitions will be happening across St James and Mayfair, traditionally the heart of London’s art market.
This is just a quick blog post to let everyone know that Art2Arts will be exhibiting at the Reading Contemporary Art Fair again this year.
Taking place over the weekend of the 27th and 28th of April at the Rivermead Leisure Complex in Reading this event is even bigger and better than previous years. Launched in 2010 as a sister event to the Windsor Contemporary Art Fair, the event brings together an eclectic mix of over 90 artists and selected galleries all to exhibit and sell original works priced between £40 & £4000.
Attracting exhibitors and attendees from across the UK and throughout Europe the fair acts as both a networking and sales platform as well as a fantastic opportunity to try out some new techniques for yourself. Exhibitors and visitors alike are encouraged to get involved with the interactive sessions through the duration of the fair, which include workshops in printing and drawing hosted by Readings very own artists group Jelly.
In addition to all the workshops and exhibitions acclaimed artist Este MacLeod will be creating a completely original piece from scratch over the course of the weekend. All visitors are encouraged to contribute a small piece to its creation, then on completion the work will be hung in a public space to be enjoyed by all.
“Having done this fair before I can’t wait to take part again this April,” confesses Michelle. “It’s so wonderful to see such a wide range of art on display but also to get to talk to so many artists and art lovers. Whether you are an artist yourself, a collector or a home owner with some blank walls to cover the Reading Art Fair is without a doubt, worth a visit.”
We would love it if you came down to support Art2Arts but also to enjoy the fair as a whole as it’s a fantastic day out. Tickets are available at a discounted price of £6 if bought in advance or are £7 if bought on the door.
Artists & Illustrators magazine has been running their Artists of The Year competition with the aim of discovering hidden talents since 2008. Open to all artists, regardless of experience, this competition offers the chance to raise your profile and garner exposure for your work as well as taking home the coveted title.
Now in its 5th year, this competition has earnt the reputation of being one of the UK’s most popular and prestigious open competitions with over 4000 artists battling it out in 2012 to be crowned Artist Of The Year. What’s more exciting for us is that one of our very own contributor, Moira Ladd has reached the final and her piece, Black Rock, Widemouth Bay, Cornwall, is being displayed on The Osbourne Studio Gallery (http://www.osg.uk.com) for all to see.
“I have three paintings on display in total, feedback has been positive but the competition is tough and the other artists are so talented,” explains Moira. “ For me the most exciting things about this years competition is that it has been extended by a further week, giving all exhibitors the chance to have their paintings seen by even more people.”
Having looked at the other works on display competition is tough but Moira more than holds her own. As many customers have said of her work, ‘it just shouted at them,’ and I am sure it will shout to visitors to the exhibition too.
From everyone at Art2Arts we wish Moira all the best and can’t wait to hear the outcome of the competition.
Art2Arts contributor Barry Andrews is undertaking a new set of seven paintings influenced by Greek architecture as part of an exhibition he is taking part in in April at the Hellenic Centre, London.
The Hellenic Centre is a vibrant cultural organization founded in 1994 with the aim of providing a focus for the Hellenic community. The centre works with the community to both raise the awareness of Hellenic culture in the UK and nurture the unique relationship between Britain and the Hellenic world.
The 7 pieces Barry is creating are a departure from his usual style and colour palate. These new works are dominated by black paint made from a mix of Prussian blue, burnt sienna and damar varnish and have taken a considerable amount of preparation in order to complete. “I have been to the library of RIBA and the British Museum collating photographic references and working drawings to use in the construction of these paintings,” explains Barry. “The change in palate and style is a welcome challenge and I am excited to see the paintings on display at the Hellenic Centre.”
The Hellenic Centre prioritizes work by its members for display in the Friends Room, although work by Greek and Greek Cypriot artists who live and work in the UK and who are not affiliated to a Gallery are also invited after consideration. The same hand of opportunity is extended to foreign artists whose work is inspired by a Hellenic theme, much like Barry.
We wish Barry all the best for the exhibition and encourage all Art2Arts members who are in the area or fancy taking a look, to visit in April. If any other Art2Arts contributors are featuring in other exhibitions or events of interest them please let us know.
Paul’s painting “Rain Down”, will be used on the set of the “The Following”, a new drama series starring Kevin Bacon. Season one starts in January on Sky Atlantic.
Rain Down
The painting “Night Falls” is currently on it’s way to the U.S.A. where it will be part of The Rochester Museum of Fine Arts permanent collection.
To view more of Paul’s stunning collection visit his gallery: Paul Bennett
I’m really excited to announce that the new ‘Manet: Portraying Life’ exhibition is opening very soon at the Royal Academy of Arts and I will certainly be paying a visit.
The exhibitions runs from: 26th January – 14 April 2013.
Art2Arts are gearing up to be part of this cutting-edge art event, featuring over 500 artists from 50 galleries. Featuring work by new and emerging artists, along with art world greats such as Tracy Emin and Rolf Harris, the Fair is a great opportunity to find original art for sale at affordable prices, from £50 to £5,000.
The fair provides a relaxed setting where you can browse for art and enjoy a great day out. As well as presenting an inspiring collection of art, the fair offers a series of informative talks by prominent art world names.
Managing director Tom Hetherington told us that “We are passionate about art and making a way of purchasing original and affordable work possible. It has been rewarding to see the event create a sustainable northern art market in a city which boasts such a dynamic arts and cultural scene.”
Summer Peony by Caroline Ashwood
The Buy Art Fair is your chance to see work by many Art2Arts favourites in person, including:
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 19th and 20th centuries.
Le Moulin de la Galette (1876) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
