Robert Clarke’s latest exhibition on its way – sneak preview!
Robert’s brilliant new show opens tomorrow, November 16th from 6.30pm! All welcome, including canines!
Kate Jenkins featured in Marie Claire Malaysia!
click on the imagery to enlarge!
We still can’t get over how amazing Kate’s work is – all the publicity she is receiving is so very much deserved!
Faconer Editorial online magazine review of Art London 2011
Francesca Barrow writes about Art London 2011, where our very own David Bromley work caught her eye!
Bromley’s interesting way of working is certainly exemplified in this fantastic work. This is a modern girl, alluring in her features and strong in resolution. There is in fact, a harshness to her which the artist has drawn upon by wickedly emphasising her bone structure and almost a spiky quality to her hair. But of course, the most brilliant aspect of this artwork is the technique. Although the background is a demanding gold, it does not detract from the subject itself which has been created with a layered wash.
Rachel
2007, 152 x 122 cm, acrylic on linen with metalic leaf
David Bromley is amongst the most successful and innovative painters currently working in Australia. In his art he has managed to combine a distinctive Pop sensibility – a love of found images, photographic sources and mass media references – with an inventive relish for the effects of paint.
His work divides into two distinct but related strands: images of childhood (adapted from the world of 1950s’ book illustrations) and images of the female nude.
Displaying an extraordinary artistic energy he has experimented with a wide variety of different media – printmaking, ceramic, sculpture and, recently, film. He is currently working on designs for a collection of utility furniture.
Though born in Sheffield, England, in 1960, Bromley moved to Australia at the age of four and has lived there ever since. As an artist he is self-taught. He has had over thirty solo exhibitions across Australia, Europe, the USA and Asia. His work is held in corporate and private collections in both hemispheres. He is listed as one of the ’50 Most Collectible Artists in Australia’ by Australian Art Collector Magazine.
Helen Flockhart – Fire & Fauna, accompanying text.
The Singing of Stymphalian Birds
oil on panel, 2011
81 x 61 cm
Heracles is slaying the birds of Lake Stymphalos (in Arkadia) to take them to Eurystheus as one of his 12 labours. In the picture he is wearing the skin of the Nemean lion, which he had slain as one of his earlier labours. I had seen a picture of a Greek amphora (a two handled urn) from around 550 BC. The picture of the urn is amazingly detailed with that luminous orange/ red background which is typical of the type. On it you can see Heracles wearing the lion’s skin and several of the birds. I used the patterns of some of the birds for my painting and created some of the others. The cabbagey trees were based on some which I had seen from a picture of an altar dedicated to Cybele in Asia minor 3rd Century AD. I know I am mixing my eras and countries here but it is classical europe and I reckon there must be a lot of similar vegetation in geographically close areas and eras.
Mare of Diomedes
oil on panel, 2011
19 x 26 cm
oil on panel, 2011
19 x 26 cm
Heracles has to capture the mares of Diomedes as another of the 12 labours.
Nemean Lion
oil on panel, 2011
16 x 23.5 cm
oil on panel, 2011
16 x 23.5 cm
Another of the 12 labours. The lion had terrorised the local villagers, was impervious to wounds and Heracles overpowered him and clubbed him then tore off his flesh with the lion’s own claws.
Jenny’s Seldom Dry
oil on canvas, 2011
80 x 120 cm
oil on canvas, 2011
80 x 120 cm
Draigl’t Petticoaties
oil pastel and oil paint on pastel paper, 2011
39 x 28 cm
Jenny’s seldom dry & Draigl’t petticoaties are based on Burns “Comin thro’ the rye
Comin thro’ the rye, poor body
Comin thro’ the rye’
She draigl’t a’ her petticoatie
Comin thro’ the rye
Oh, Jenny’s a’ weet, poor body
Jenny’s seldom dry
She’s draigl’t a’ her petticoatie
Comin thro’ the rye
Gin a body meet a body
Comin thro’ the rye
Gin a body kiss a body
Need a body cry
Oh Jenny’s a’ weet poor body
Jenny’s seldom dry
She’s draigl’t a’ her petticoatie
Comin thro’ the rye
Gin a body meet a body
Comin thro’ the glen
Gin a body kiss a body
Need the warld ken
Oh Jenny’s a’ weet poor body
Jenny’s seldom dry
She’s draigl’t a’ her petticoatie
Comin thro’ the rye
Charmer
oil on panel, 2011
13 x 21 cm
oil on panel, 2011
13 x 21 cm
This piece is purely an image from my imagination of a figure playing a flute, charming a bird, though I know there are many figures in mythology who would match up with this such as Orpheus.
Trojan Horse
oil on panel, 2011
26.5 x 37 cm
oil on panel, 2011
26.5 x 37 cm
I had an idea to paint a Trojan horse earlier in the year then heard of a Trojan horse having been set alight in the street amidst the Student riots. I did not see pictures of it but it is strange how life sometimes collides with what’s brewing in the imagination. And, as I’ve said, it has been hard to avoid images of fire in 2011 from the riots in England, Student riots, the Arab spring and ensuing conflict. It has been at the very least on the periphery of one’s mind while we go about our daily lives, as the images are ever present.
Leaping Hare
oil on panel, 2011
14.8 x 10.5 cm
I don’t know what it is about hares. What makes them so much less innocent, oblivious and cuddly than the rabbit, apart from the fact that they can reach quite an alarming size, are rather ungainly and clumsy. They seem somehow knowing, and I am not sure we would like to know what they know. Rather unsettling creatures.
Peach
oil on panel, 2011
15 x 21 cm
oil on panel, 2011
15 x 21 cm
These are leftovers in a similar landscape which the animals have appeared, and are also populated with animals, albeit tiny ones. Peaches are almost indecent fruits, very sexual. As are pomegranates which often also appear in my paintings. Just because they don’t have a face doesn’t mean they do not communicate, for example, sensuality and decay.
http://www.r-h-g.co.uk/exhibitions/view/helen_flockhart_fire_and_fauna/181,6107.html
David Farrer – Holy Cow! @ Charlotte Street until 3 December
Ladies and Gentlemen, behold the incredible work of papier mache master, David Farrer.
David’s magnitude of all creatures great and small are currently on show at Charlotte Street – you really must come see it to believe it.
Just a small visual teaser as to what awaits you at Charlotte Street!
