Natalie Bell's work

Symbiosis - 76 x 76 cm - Acrylic on canvas

Natalie's work is playful and concise. Using underpainting and then building up in layers Natalie manages to build up worlds to explore. At the exhibition we have two series the 'Nanobot' & 'Microbes' that showing how Natalie explores the idea of science and that which we can not see or know. Using this method the work speaks not only of an other worldliness but reflects on the world itself; though what is left and whats taken out, systems start to build up. These could be roads, houses or and number of islands and as a viewer you are pulled into explore and make connection. The work has a quality whereby you can go back and back to each painting and find new depths, making them exciting pieces to live with.

Nathan

Untitled no.4

Untitled no.4 - 129 x 110cm, mixed media on Canvas by Jacob de Graaf

The pealed back forms Jacob uses really appeal to me personally but I see a lot of universal appreciation of his paintings. Without life they become 'non-spaces' in which we can feel alone and reflective or sometimes afraid; a place to escape reality. This painting to me has a real American appeal that highlights how this work can take you places, this is not dictated by Jacob rather there is room for the viewer to react. The colour pallet plays an integral part in removing you from reality, slightly dusky colours fog this new place, you step into the twilight where all is calm but changing. With Jacob's work however there are slight glimpses of humanity in 'windows' emitting light but it is important to understand these works are abstract and through this abstraction the emotive reaction is born.

Nathan

New Gallery in Malton

This Thursday it was my pleasure to attend the opening of Duckett and Jeffreys Gallery It's a wonderful space to show art and the gallery picked a great artists; Sally Taylor, to open with. I met Sally only a few weeks before which is where I heard about the Gallery and Exhibition, having seen her work I was keen to go see it. On the night I bought one of Sally's works, just a small one. It was a drawing on a wood block; I was taken with the notion of 'ACTION' 'NON-ACTION' and hoped it would spur me on to take action when needed.

I wish Duckett & Jeffreys Gallery all the best and look forward to seeing their future exhibitions, it's good to see others showcasing strong, professional artists with a clear practice.

Nathan

Studio Visit ready for our April Exhibition

On Saturday the Revolving Gallery team went on Studio Visits for three of the Artists showing with us in April. It was a long day, we set off at 9:30am and didn't get home until 9pm but I think it safe to say it one or our favourite parts of the job. It is a real luxury to get to see where and how artists work.



First up we went to Newcastle to Mushroom Works studio where we met with Natalie Bell (Image above), here we got to have a good look through and select the works we are presenting to you (which was not such an easy task with the strong works we needed to narrow down slightly) Natalie paints in many layers pulling her images & colour through in her 'Microbes' series, it was nice to see these works in the flesh where you can see this depth. We also got to see more of the 'Nanobot' series that have more structure and definition.



After Natalie we met up with Eva who happened to be in the same studio block. Here again we got to learn much more about her technique and how much work goes into each piece. With the studio visit you also get a chance to see where artist have come from and where they are going. I (Nathan) also get to talk materials, which brings out the inner geek in me but as said before we do make sure the works are made to a high standard. It was a pleasure to see these works again in the flesh where the colour really hits you and the quality of line in her drawing works.

Last visit of the day was just on from Newcastle so after a late lunch we arrived at Andrew Crane's house and studio. This is the first time we had got to see Andrew's work in the flesh and it was a real treat. Although his work can look grey and dull online once you see it in a good light it springs to life. These works are vary painterly and Andrew has a interesting stories about each one. The end of the day finished with us having to make more hard choices in selecting from his works.





Nathan