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Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Saturday, 19 May 2012
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Sunday, 29 April 2012
20th exhibition has new exhibitors - Paul Irvine
In addition to Marianthi and Dennis, we are proud to present the silver work of local artist, Paul Irvine.
Paul Irvine is Wirral born, and has lived in Hoylake for twenty five years. He is a full time teacher of Design & Technology, and has always enjoyed the challenge of designing and making his own ‘stuff’.
He trained at Shoreditch College in the 1970s, and has returned
to working in silver relatively recently, although he is equally happy
working in both wood and engineering materials which proves to be
useful, as it enables him to make the tools and formers that he needs to
work silver. Perhaps because silversmithing is first and foremost a
hobby, Paul’s pieces are somewhat eclectic, ranging from pieces of
jewellery to candelabra to napkin rings.
His preferred method of working is to beat and hammer silver into
shape, where the material’s malleability (‘smackability’ as one of his
pupils memorably expressed it), enables the silver to be wrought into
shape. For some pieces silver sheet is ‘pressed’ into shape using
handmade wooden formers and the pressure of a vice – this is
particularly so on some of the bangles, where the curvature is
anticlastic (it curves in opposite directions); this form is
particularly strong along its length, and can be seen in natural
structures such as leaves and grasses. He also fabricates pieces,
joining them together with heat and solder.
Design sources are picked up all over the place: from natural
forms, from geometric shapes, from the inspiration of the work of other
artists and craftspeople, and from simply thumping the silver to see
where it will go. Sketching sometimes forms the basis of ideas, although
more often than not three dimensional modelling is the preferred method
of development. For each finished piece of silver there are usually at
least a couple of rough hewn pieces of copper or gilding metal
languishing in the corner of his workshop.
Paul is registered with the Assay office at Goldsmith’s Hall in
London, and all his work is assayed and hallmarked by them to guarantee
the quality of the silver. The majority of his work is produced in
Sterling silver, which can be seen by the 925 mark within the Assay
marks.
Paul would probably like to describe his silver work along the
lines of ‘The product of many hard won years of experience, finely tuned
and realised in individual pieces in his studio workshop in Hoylake’
His wife translates this as ‘Rustling up bling in his garage’.
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Marianthi's photographs for our 20th Exhibition
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| ©Marianthi Lainas |
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| ©Marianthi Lainas |
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| ©Marianthi Lainas |
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| ©Marianthi Lainas |
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| ©Marianthi Lainas |
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| ©Marianthi Lainas |
Wednesday, 18 April 2012
Our next exhibition will feature Marianthi Lainas and Dennis Spicer
Marianthi Lainas
"Perhaps it is the idea of the momento mori, the idea that life is
transitory, or perhaps that the objects within a painting are somehow
carrying on a dialogue with each other, but whatever it is, I find the
subject endlessly stimulating and fascinating. The painting of the
varying textures and the way that the
surfaces reflect light constantly challenge the artist and the spaces
between the objects become just as important as the objects themselves.
In the tradition of "nature morte" I am attracted to paint
things that are cast off and have no importance. I find objects in
charity shops or sometimes in the detritus of the street or on the sea
shore. I am trying, through painting them with the same attention and
scrutiny as more precious objects, to reclaim them from being simply
overlooked. Life drawing and painting are also important to me as a
change
from the static nature of the still lives to the more spontaneous
capturing of a momentary gesture. In addition I have lately been doing
landscapes of the country side around West Kirby and portraits."
Dennis has had two one man shows in London and regularly exhibits at the New English Art Club and Royal Institute of Oil Painters exhibitions, as well as shows in the North West. He has paintings in both private and public collections in this country and abroad.
dennisspicerartworks.blogspot.com
www.dennisspicer.co.uk
Marianthi is a professional photographer based in Hoylake.
Whether it be capturing the interaction of light on the land, recording
the architectural landscapes of urban life or highlighting the intricate
details of a flower or plant, she enjoys the challenge of new and
varied subjects.
Land and seascape photography remain her particular love however,
and form the subjects of most of her photographic images. She is
inspired by the rich colours of dawn and dusk when natural light is at
its most special and also loves working in black and white, creating
striking monochromatic images to emphasise texture and form in a scene.
Her images are made using digital camera equipment with an
emphasis on capturing the essence of a scene ‘in camera’ rather than
relying on computer enhancements afterwards.
“The stunning views around the North West coast, with its
fantastic skies and ever-changing light provide a constant source of
inspiration for me. I have a fascination for how the camera records
movement in the landscape, its ability to capture magical moments of
light and will frequently use long-exposures to explore the different
effects that can be created.”
Her images are regularly published in travel
guides, magazines and newspapers, feature on greetings cards and
calendars and her limited edition prints are increasingly in demand from
private clients.
Dennis Spicer
Dennis attended the Byam Shaw School of Painting in London from 1979 to 1983. Since then he has supported himself as a teacher and by selling his art. In 2000, he moved to the Merseyside with his family where he continues to teach and paint. The majority of his work are of still life.
"Perhaps it is the idea of the momento mori, the idea that life is
transitory, or perhaps that the objects within a painting are somehow
carrying on a dialogue with each other, but whatever it is, I find the
subject endlessly stimulating and fascinating. The painting of the
varying textures and the way that the
surfaces reflect light constantly challenge the artist and the spaces
between the objects become just as important as the objects themselves.
In the tradition of "nature morte" I am attracted to paint
things that are cast off and have no importance. I find objects in
charity shops or sometimes in the detritus of the street or on the sea
shore. I am trying, through painting them with the same attention and
scrutiny as more precious objects, to reclaim them from being simply
overlooked. Life drawing and painting are also important to me as a
change
from the static nature of the still lives to the more spontaneous
capturing of a momentary gesture. In addition I have lately been doing
landscapes of the country side around West Kirby and portraits."Dennis has had two one man shows in London and regularly exhibits at the New English Art Club and Royal Institute of Oil Painters exhibitions, as well as shows in the North West. He has paintings in both private and public collections in this country and abroad.
dennisspicerartworks.blogspot.com
www.dennisspicer.co.uk
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
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